IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


ii     MP. 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Instltut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


:\ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pellicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

'.a  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaver:  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6ti  film^es. 


The 
toti 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  eKemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 


f~~1    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


n/ 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^colordes,  tachet^es  ou  piqu6es 


The 
posi 
of  tl 
fllmi 


Orig 

bag] 

the 

slon 

othe 

first 

sion 

or  ill 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materia 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r^  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


The 
shal 
TINI 
whii 

Map 
diffc 
entli 
beg! 
right 
requ 
metl 


n 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmies  d  nouveau  de  facon  i 
obtenir  la  meiileure  image  possible. 


0 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


Irregular  pagination  :   [3]  - 14,  [17]  -  450  p. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


SOX 


^ 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


e 

dtails 
IS  du 
nodifier 
ir  une 
ilmage 


ts 


The  copy  filmed  hare  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  off: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibillty 
of  the  original  copy  and  In  Icaeping  with  the 
filming  contract  spacifioatlons. 


Original  copies  In  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  Ail 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  Illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaira  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAn6roslt*  da: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 

Les  images  sulvantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soln,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nattet*  de  rexemplaira  film*,  et  en 
conformiti  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmage. 

Les  exemplalres  orlginaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  fiimte  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impresslon  ou  d'lllustration,  nolt  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  Ie  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplaires 
orlginaux  sont  film6s  en  commsnpant  par  la 
pramldre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impresslon  ou  d'illustratlon  e'l  en  terminant  par 
la  darnldre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  la  symbole  — ►  signlf ie  "A  SUIVRE".  Ie 
symbole  V  signlfle  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  In  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  i  des  taux  da  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  aaul  clich6,  II  est  fiimd  d  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  la  nombra 
d'Imagas  nicessaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
iilustrant  la  mAthoda. 


srrata 
to 


pelure, 
in  i 


□ 


32X 


1  2  3 


1  2  3 

4  5  6 


y 


i  ' 


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NEW  WORLD: 


a  U  II  H  A  0  I  N  o 


AMERICAN   IIISTOIIY. 


OOMPRIAmo 

ofVacu    r,; ,,  *="'""'^:an  naticvh,  with  hki-auatk  histoiues 

or  i..A(,u,  .Ncu-mNo  rm:  vak,„„s  „Kv.„,,rn.,.NM  an.,  t„k  ehection 

OK  IN1,KI.KN,,KNT  BTATKS,  TO  TUB  Pn£«KNT  T.M«. 


HENRY    nOWAIU) "  BROWNELL,    A.M. 

TWO    VOLUMES  IJ\r  OJVE. 


VOt.    I. 


Z    TTr        ^'""""^-»-  '•'•o  SP—O-  m  A^orloa:  Mox.oo.  Peru.  OhlU   Florid.. 

InAmorloa.  Br..U._4.Tho  DutuH  i,.  America.  _  6.  The  Frenolir 
AmorlOB :  Oonocln,  Aoadio.  Loul.Una.  *o. 


WITH    NUMEROUS    AND    DIVERSIFIED    COLOrR|.;i)    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

(BiiltrcIiT  nclu,  from  (Ongiiiiil  iltsigns, 

EXECUTED  m  THE  BEST  STV..,;,  uv  TJ£E  FIUST  AUTI8T8  i.V  AMEKICA. 

BOSTON: 
DAYTON     AND      WENTWORTH, 

86   WASHINGTON   STREET. 
18  5  5. 


/^     3  77 


ENTKRKD     A  C  C  O  l(  I)  1  N  O   TO   ACT   OK   CONGRESS     IN   THE.  YEAR    1854     BY 

DAYTON    AND  WENTVVORTH, 

IN   THE   CLERK'S    OFFICE   OF  THE    DISTRICT   COURT   OF   MASSACHUSETTS. 


tv 


n.'i 


IlAnXFOBD  : 

FOUNDRY  OF  SIl.AS  ANtiRl'S  &.  SON. 

IV.  C.  .Irmstrungy  Tijpographer, 


W.    B.    WILLIAM! 
Steam    Presa 


till 


I  S,. 


It 


CONTENTlS. 


PART  I. 
THE   NORTHMEN    IN   AMERICA. 


ANri«i,T.\horlKln(iiniiC(.« 


lli«l)«aU.;  All«mpt  of  ThorsleU J.    "       . .  '  'ho  Voyage  an.l  l)i,cov,.,i™  „f  tihmvk!.!- 


PART  II. 


THE    SPA\I,U1,S    IN   AMERICA. 

THE   nrsCOVBKIKS  or  CO.UMBUS  .«„  SBXT.K.K«X  OP  XHK  WKSX  .-O.KS. 

r'^v''''""' '''''''•''''''*'-'■'- -^-Sr^ 

vnanvs  w.ib  ibe  Cuunibul,, ........;'         '""""-'"'  "'""'"'""po,  Porlo  Uic,  &e.;  A.N 


SO 


ai 


';;''«'"''"""-S .,:.„„ 


40 


t-turn  loSpuii) ^^ 


^'^  o  3^^  jy 


CONTKNTS. 


riiAi'Tv.ii  vn                                                            PAal 
Th"  I>i'cliiiliii{  I'lirlMiiiK  ipf  r,i|iiml)ii»;  nininilllo  In  I'illiM«-(iiil  nii  Mxiiidllliiri;  Hiilln  on  hi»  TlnM 
Vhjiiuii;  tliii  Di.-ciiviT)  111' H.Miih   Ariii'iieiii   llxtriiiiiiliimij   llii'dr)  ;  ('(iliiinliiiM  nrriviii  ut  IIh)Ii; 
I)l.i(iiiliT,<lliiri.  i  Ihu  lUUIIh.n  oC  llolilaii;  lloalililliw  with  lliu  li»lluh»-  lliiir  D.lcal, 03 

I'll  tlM'KH    VIII 

Trliitiiph  111' .Mil-  Ui'IicIh;  C'dliiiiilxia  Kill 1  ill  Uniirt;   A|i|iiiliitim'Ml  nf  lldljiKlilhi— IIU  IiiucpIi'ik'i' ; 

('■pIiiiiiImh  i-cMl  III  f"!!!!!!!  Ill  CliiiliiH ;  Hcti-iilidii  dl' llm  NmHiiii;  Vfilml  ll.'ilr<«»  j  A|i|<iiiiilihi'nt  nf 
(iMiiiil..;  Kiiuilh  1111(1  l.iint  ViijiiKii  of  CoIiiiiiIiiia  In  ilir  New  Worlil ;  l)i>niiiii'tli>ii  ol  lil«  Knomli'n 
Iry  I'l'iiiiK'sl  i  IIIh  Criilnii  on  thii  CoiictB  of  llniiiliirmi,  C'okIii  Hicii,  tc,  Ac. ;  Huiiicli  lur  ii  Wiriill ;  lliit 
lJiaii|i|)oliiliil(iil, (in 

OlIAI'Tlril    IX 

Dbii^tn.in  Mliinpl  In  Found  a  S.'ttlcmi'iil ;  lloalililii'H  wllli  llio  Iiiillnnii ;  Ihii  Wmclii  niiiilly  Himniliil 
on  I  111!  ImIiiiiiI  iil'.liiiiiiilcii;  Kxlmonliimrj  licvici'  of  rnliinilmn  ;  Mutiny  of  lii»  ■■'nlliiwiT.'";  TifiicliiM) 
ol'  Dnwiilii ;  Ki'pcuo  of  lliii  C'icwh  ;  Aliocilli'it  ooiiiinliiid  on  ih.^  Niillvi'H of  May tl ;  Iliilui n  of  Culuiii- 
liiistu  rt|min— llisTri'iitini'nt-III.H  Diiiilij   l)l!.|ini.al  of  lliu  Iliinulnii 77 

CHAPrKK     X 

Dl.-iiovi'iy  mill  Survey  of  riilm-il«  Oonqui'sl  liy  Vi'liiwiiii'/, ;  Momoriiblo  Hpcicli  of  iin  Iiiiliiin  ; 
l""i|ii(latiiiii  of  lliiviiim,  fcc. ;  t'onnur!<t  of  Porto  Ulcp  liy  I'.iiico  do  l.ooii ;  Wiimiilar  Kxiicrlniiiil  of 
II  t,'iici(iu(, ;  Final, HuliJiiKiilion  of  lli«  Inland  ;  Hii-covory  of  .liinialcii— il«  lliiiiiaiio  ('oiii|iK'iit  liy  Jiiiiii 
do  INqiiivil ;  aubsiMiUunl  Cruflllus  of  tliu  HiiaiiiuiUs  ;  Aocoiiiit  of  Ainoriciia  VcKpiiciUK, »I3 

THE   SKTTLF.I>1ENT  OF   THE    ISTHMUS  AND   DlSCdVEKV   OF   THE   I'ACIFIC, 

I'll  ATTKIt  I 

DlmiKlroiis  Alli'mpts  to  found  a  HiitliMiifiit  on  tin'  Islliiniin;  Vimro  Niiiii'z  iln  Itnilion!  ttic  Soltlcnii'iit 
of  n.n-liMi;  Di'iiliiurswilli  tho  Iinliiins;  Itiiiiioiiis  of  llu' Soiitli  Hi'a  ;  Kxiu'dilioii  of  lliilboii;  ronli'»n 
wilii  llio  Indians;  Disoovi'ry  of  tlui  Pauillc, pg 

I'll  AlTKil    II 

Till'  P.i'lurn  March;  AppoliilmiMit  of  PcdrnriiiH  Oavilla— Mi*  Rxpi'dllioii— lliu  .IiHlmiKy  if  Riilliim; 
Mi.il'oriuiu'11  of  Iho  Colony ;  Fxpi'dition  of  Morali'H  iind  Piziirni;  KiTuiiciinilinn  of  I'ldriirian  mill 
llulbou;  Vi'cui'ls  convcyi'd  Uviiiluud  to  llio  Pucillc  ;  Hiiddin  Ancat,  Trial,  uml  rxucullon  of  llulboii,    1)3 

rIlA!"iI«H    III, 

I'.'nimido  Miip'llnn— (lis  Voyiiw  (o  tho  foutli-wcst ;  Wiiitcrx  at  Port  Hi.  .Iiiliaii ;  llic  PMtiii;i)nimii; 
lli'<iMvi'ry  and  Pii!<!.iii,'n  of  Ihu  Slraila  of  Mni-'i'lliiii ;  Voyiiao  tlii'ou«h  lb«  Phcillc  to  lliu  Pliilippinii 
l^ll•a;  ItaHliiu'Bs  and  Dcalli  of  Mnst'llan  ;   tbi'  Uiiriil  CiiriiuiimviKali'd, 07 

THE    CONQUEST    AND    HISTOilY    OF    MEXICO. 

CIl'I'TKH    I, 

Pri'Krc'Ha  of  3|iiiiiUli  rnnqui'St ;  ni«covory  of  Yucatan— of  Mi'xlco ;  Ilornando  Cnrli'K-IIiH  Fxpcilltion  ; 
Ascent  of  till'  liiu  du  Tubunco  ;  Uoiiteela  with  tbo  Imlliiim;  Arrival  at  fun  Jiiaii  do  IJluii, |()1 

ClIAl'TKK    II, 

The  iMoxican  Abiiriniiios— Ihi'ir  Oriijin  and  Appcaraiico— thuir  (Jovi'riimcnt,  Tliciilnity,  Miiiini'i-H  and 
Ciialonis, II,.; 

CITAPTKH  III, 

Till'  Knipcror  Miiiiti'Ziiina ;  I.midlnB  of  llio  Hpniiiimls-lliiiir  Neuiitintimi  with  MontHziima— His 
Impolicy;  Siileniiiil  PrcsiMits;  ('orli'9  li.'volts  iiRiiinst  Vi-hisiiucz— Forms  an  AIMiince  with  tlio 
Totonacs— Destroys  their  Idols— Sets  forth  for  Mexico, j HI 

ClIAlTKH     17 

The  Miircli  tnwnril  Mexico;  Spirited  Resisliince  of  Iho  Tliisciilans ;  Siici-eKS  of  the  Ppiiniards -their 
I)i-i'oiiniui'iiii'iils;  Kirniiicss  of  Cortes;  Submission  of  the  TIai-Chlaiia  ;  Piiiijiilar  Clniiii,'e  of  Fei'liiin; 
l)n|iiii.'iiy  of  Corles  ;  His  Zeal  for  Conversion, 1 15 

CU  4.1'TI'  R    V, 

Siibini.'-ion  of  Provinces  ;  Corles  iiinrch.'S  on  Choliihi ;  Pkil  Discovered  ;  Massacre  ofthe  Choliilaiis, 
llio  IMarch  to  Mi-xicu  Hesumeil ;  Weak  Policy  of  .Miuiteziima ;  the  Kntrancu  Into  Mexico;  Inter- 
views wilh  the  Emperor— His  Ceiierosily  mid  Atriibility i;a 

niAPl'T-H    VI 

Description  of  the  Ar.cient  Capital  of  Tenm-btillan  or  Mexico  ;  the  Palncosof  Moiileziimii :  His  Collec- 
tions of  Niilurnl  History  ;  Supi'r.-tition  of  tlie  Spaihiiida;   llidi'uiis  Scenes  of  Sncrilli'e  ;  Uellectiuns,  l-.M 


Co 


pa 


1)7 


CONTKNTtt. 


71 


rnprliicl|.l.«l  f>,-ti.mi..  of  (;„ri,„j   nu  Tr.miil.Hr„i 
i:iiiofii;  OiilruKci  „n  iliii  Kmimroi 
"w.'Br  AllcgliiricH  to  thu  H).mi(,h  On 
Curluii, 


i«  liT-iMi;  rruKlniiml  0„„,,i™ey  „r  111.,  |',lMo.«i   ih,.  r,,ei,,„,., 
-n.wi.i  A(rMuiinKt<c„„«i  <;r..ul  T,ll)ul,M,rTa..i,ur.s  UnimcM,' „r 


1«8 


UJfAPTEH   vm 

Mi'Xlciin.i ;  Diiiiif 

«..utl,  ,m„.a.„;.;..,. :  I .     .     ,   .   .';;  """  '""'"""■  ""•  »''"""'  «'•""""«  «"«'  Vlou-ry ,  III.  |.-urc.„ 


":''r::':::;,r;;;' ,!;::?t;;!::,!'!",^-:-- — - "•■  -r"-  h, x,., 


i.;<ulM».  N«,nu.«  ;   IhirHta  hh.I  l«k,  n  l.iin  Hrl«,MH>r;  III 


139 


*':::'i:::i;!;:r:rr:.':j:::':;';::':r'-'":'''^'-'-"^^  nM..M..x,e..,,n,A.,.. 


■>       ,       ...  •  ,....,„ ,,.,,,  i.iriiiiiui  II tr  initiiv 


i:i7 


"r:;zr;x:;:r;:;,?:dEE'£;^;^:,i:'i;"'"'" "'- 


■•■"• .K-B..~.i, .,,,.,:;,:;;:L:iZZ:::.T  .:°''!':T'!°Z 

««xic«-Tuk«.  up  ..,,uuarler;rC;lI  .!..!;  '^"'""'"  ''"'""'  •'■-'='«•■  '"  '"e  Vall..y  .,f 


ll'i 


■UTKtt    XII. 


«t  T:,c,.b«;  ai„«„,„r  ,>i„„„.y  .'.f  K.nJuX   7."!.    "  I.     .     .    '"'  ""    "'"■""  '"""'  ^'"lo-Arrlv.. 
-,  <^n*rTKii  XIII 

^^^-^^^::^::z:::^:::::^^^  -^. ..nn,„.;i ..„. 


C-llAPlTiK     \-IV 


I4n 


1.50 


I.'k) 


OiiiiMiil  .\nsniill  .)ii  i||(.  ciiy;  ,\r,r,.|  I,,,.,,  . ,  , ,,. ,.     „    . 

or  t..e  Aui.-.„ei,  K„...,„ , , .j  ^::::^j^:^;:^;^^';';;;"^^^^^^^^  """  »'"^-'- 

Twrll)lii.SmriTiiiL'>i  and  .'Mnilnlltvi.rii, '' 

»• "'>  -'• '- v..,„„.;;';;:2:' .:  ;'-:;^-  :^^::-"  «'■""•— -^'"-n.,..,. = « „. , 

BMiom  ,m  lh«  U,m.,»„.t, * ...   .  ''  """"  *''"'"""" '  Cupli.re  of  OuatoMw.zii, ;  Re- 


I5y 


Tim  Tiirliiri,  of  Ciuitemnz 


I'MAl   IKK    XVI 

a,r...o„c.,..H-ni»o...„,!:;;;;r;i;:;i::;;;:,:;;;;^'.^-';^"'' -;n„,c..an,iTn,.., 


..  iiii 


Mexico;  K,,,,,.,;,,.  Kxr..,li,i.,n    ;  c.   ,,,"',,''''"  '   " " '"""""'■•l  "»  >-. ;  U,.„„„s  ,„ 

Heath;  Hi,  Chan,,.,,.. .  [• ,....',"''""""  "■""•""  '"  ^P""' ;   V,m,cce,BUU  at  Curl;    Hi, 


liiiJ 


'I-;  I-alo„rih„Con,i,.,.ror.- *^       '   '  "*""-'™'»r"l  "'  Court;    His 


Condition  ortli«Imli,i,i8nM.lth..S 


Ki 


dationa  of  lli,,  llncanic 


|>anishC„hinisl.t;  Nalimial  I'ri.lo  •  S- 


i-";  ''"Mic  U-..rk»  f„r  the  p,.„|,.cii, 


yclcnioffiovnrnnipnt;  n.. 


prp- 


tVLizacized  b^.l^rainont;  J..,„i„  Ex,,eli.''i,  • '     . .     .™"""  '"'  ""=''■'''"""!   '"'''''"  R«V"Ma ;  V,.,a 


l-'I'AI-TKK    >:i 

'^^'.•.•^.".n.n^el!:::^';;;!;^:;;^;;,:;'^"'''"'''-'^^ 


Cominencnn...nt  of  (h«  First  Revolmi 
by  fallija ;  liny 
of  the  Piiiriuls  ;  lliirbi.le,.. 


no 


•  laratlonof  ln.lepeiH|,.„c,,;  Rrvcrl-,.. 


8 


CONTENTS. 


OHAPTIK    XX.  PAQK 

Espousnl  of  the  CauMof  Independence  by  Iturbido;  Proclnmntlon  at  latimla;  Union  wllh  the  Rovo- 
luliuiinry  Party ;  TrHBly  with  the  Viceroy,  and  Surrender  of  the  Capital ;  DimenHions ;  Iturbido 
made  Kinper.ir  j  His  Overthrow  and  Death  ;  Prlitlcal  Factions ;  Spunixh  Attempts  at  RSconqueBt,  185 

niAl'TEK    XXI. 

Overthrow  of  Guerrero  by  Snntn  Anna  and  BustBinenle ;  Tyrannical  Procpedings  during  the  Admin- 
islriiiioii  of  Santa  Anna  ;  Resistanco  in  the  Provinces  of  Zacatocas  and  Texas;  the  Texan  War  ; 
Delcat  of  Santa  Anna;  Difflcullics  with  France;  Civil  War;  Santa  Anna  restored  to  Power ;  Re- 
volt, headed  by  Paredes ;  llerrcra  PresidunI, igg 

CHAPTEa    XX... 

Annexation  Of  Tcxa.M  to  the  tJiiitcd  Stales;  IndiKuatlon  of  Mexico;  Slidell's  CommlBsion ;  Prepnrn- 
tiohs  BKahist  Texas ;  General  Tnyhir's  March  to  the  Rio  Grande ;  Commencement  of  Iloatililies; 
War  neclnred  ;  Plan  of  the  Mexican  Oampalstn  ;  Bailie  of  Palo  Alto— of  Resaca  de  la  Pulma ;  M«t- 
nnuiras  Occuj.ied  ;  Return  of  Santa  Anna  to  Mexico ;  Reduction  of  Montert^, IKI 

CHAPTER    XXIir. 

Paula  Anna's  Chaniie  of  Policy ;  Heneral  Scott's  Plan  of  Campaign  ;  Defeat  of  the  Mexican  Army  at 
lluena  Vi..|a  ;  Mexican  Politics;  Capture  of  Vera  Cruz ;  March  into  llie  Interior;  Hultte  of  Cerro 
Guido;  Occupation  of  Puebla;  Guerilla  Warfare;  Fruitless  Negotiations  ;  Advance  on  Ihe  Capital,  I!W 

CBAPTZR     XSIV. 

Movements  of  Santa  Anna;  His  Plans  thwarted  by  Valencia;  Battle  of  Contreras;  Seizure  of  San 
Antonio;  Battle  of  Churubu.-co ;  Negotiations;  Storming  of  the  Molino  del  Rey  and  the  Casa 
Malu-of  the  Fortress  of  Chapult.-pec ;  Kvacuatiou  of  the  City;  its  Occupation  by  the  Americun 
Forces ;  Final  Military  Operations ;  Treaty  at  Giiudulupo  Hidalgo, 203 

CHAPTER     XXV. 

Summary  of  Naval  Operations ;  Colonel  Kearney's  Proceedings  In  New  Mexico ;  Events  In  Califoi^ 
nia;  Union  of  Colonel  Fremont  wilh  Commodore  StockUm;  Kearney's  Arrival  at  San  Diego; 
Oiinpaign  of  Iho  Combined  Forces;  Disputes  Ijetweeii  the  American  Commamlere;  Colonel  Doni- 
plmn's  Services ;  Mexico,  since  Ihe  Conclusion  of  Peace  with  the  United  States ;  Return  of  Santa 
Anna ;  Difficulties  relating  to  tho  Mesilla  Valley, gy,, 


THE    CONQUEST   AND    HISTOHT   OF   PERU. 

CHAPTER    I. 

The  Capital  of  Ihe  Islhmus  transferred  to  Panama;  Account  of  Francisco  Pizarro-His  Confederates 
-His  First  Voyage  in  Quest  of  Peru  ;  Grievous  Loss  and  SulTering :  Ills  Return  ;  Ihe  Voyage  of 
Alinagro  ;  Exiraordinary  Contract  of  Pizarro,  Almagro,  and  Luqiie, . . . .  'JI3 

CHAPTFR  II. 

Second  Voyairo  of  Pizarro  and  Almaaro-their  Suiferings;  Fresh  Discoveries;  Return  of  Almagro; 
the  Island  <,f  Gallo ;  Resolution  .if  Pizarro  and  Twelve  Otiiers-their  Dii'Cov.'rv  of  Peru-its  Trea- 
sures:  Pizarro  repairs  lo.><pain;  Grant  of  tlie  Crown  ;  Return  of  Piziirio  with  his  Brothers;  Ihe 
T  lord  Kxpt'dition  to  Peru ;  Batllo  at  Puna, 2in 

CIIAPTKR    JII 

The  AhoriRines  of  Per,,;  the  Rule  of  Ihe  Incas;  Refleclions;  Airrlcullnral  I,aboui-s ;  Mamas;  Im- 
mense Public  VVoiks ;  VVa-like Operations;  Public  Records ;  Religion;  Traditions;  Early  History; 
Condiliun  of  Ihe  Race  in  Modern  Times, o.il 

rUAPTFR  IV. 

Pizarro  lands  at  Tumhez-Marohe.^  Ponlhward,  and  founds  San  Miguel;  Proceeds  in  Quest  of  the 
liicji;  Crosses  tlie  Andes;  Friendly  Mes.-ages  ;  Arrival  at  Caxumaica  :  Inteiview  with  Alahuallpa- 
His  U.  serve;  Strength  of  the  Peruvians, '  „n~ 

on  ».rTT^H    V, 

Cniel  ami  A,id.icio,is  Scheme  of  Pizarro:  the  Visit  of  Ihe  Inca;  Scene  wilh  the  Friar  Vhlverde ; 
Terrilile  Ma.ssacre  of  tho  Peruvians  ;  Seizure  of  the  Inca  ;  His  Fnrliluilo  ;  Plunder  of  the  City  and 
Camp ;  F.xlraordinary  Offer  of  Ransom  ;  tho  Murder  of  Hiiasciir, o;),, 

CHAPTFR  VI 

Tlie  Expedilion  to  Pachacamnc ;  the  Spoils  of  Cuzco  ;  Division  of  Immense  Treasur,- ;  the  AOocious 
Trial.  Sentence,  and  Murder  of  Alahuallpa ;  Hypocrisy  of  Pizarro ;  Re(lectionB ;  Eventual  Fate  of 
the  Murderers, 


Ex 

Rail 
O 
V 

Mori 
tie 
Ca 


Caiip 
Pai 


Rene 
the 
tern 


Junn  r 
Scco 
-Af 
Iholi 


nox 

flVO- 

bide 

uest, 

185 

inin- 

I'ar ; 

Re- 

.... 

190 

inrft- 

tiea ; 

Miit- 

1!W 

y  lit 

»!rro 

litul, 

IW 

.Sun 

Uasa 

CONTENTS. 


onAr-TKH  vn. 


9 


Piiiarios ;  Rieiiig  of  the  Indlaiii, ;  diege  of  Cuzc,     M.^         \  ?"''*"'  '"'*'"'"  '^"""'<"'  ""«  ">e 
the  Spanish  General,,  Defeat  a^d  ZIoZm—'""'  ""  "'"'""""''  ^'-"  ^^'"-  "«'«-" 

' 238 


CHAPTER   Vlir, 


AMssiiin  Of  Hernando ;  His  Fata  •  p»„o.j.. I        ,„        

>'.«  Amazon ,  Terri'ble  SuS„     ^'r'  ''T'"  '"''"™ '  """^''^^^  "^  »"'»  Voyage  down 
Assassination;  IlisCharaSTc.'..        '!.  ."^  '™  "*■""'  P-"»"'» -f  Al.ni^ro;  His 


CnAPTHH    IX. 


243 


F<irces  raisetl  by  Nunez  •  Hi»  Pi,»K.  w    .v     "f  *^'"^^'*  x. 

«wpren,acyofpizar..:S     Sra'G"::r:Ls^ 

Pizurro  at  Cuzco, "  '"  *"""-" '  "'»  P"l'"e  PioceeUings ;  Battle  of  Hiiarlna; 


247 


XI. 


Cnntfous  Movements  of  Gasca-  His  M«r-.h  ,^n''^'^^? 
ofCWb-,aiandP.a„o;Wi;e?dl'^:iL"^^^^^^ 
tem;  IheMltaand  Repartlmiento ;  InsurrecXn  o^hso',.       .^'l';!"' °'''''''''™'  '"«  Colonial  S 

Commencement  of  the  Revolution;  InvasI, 


CHAPTER   211. 


252 


257 


P.oclaimed;  Keverses  of  tli^P;;.;,::";"!::;:^  :;';:;ri:.  ^''""•'"  "^^""'"  '""^P-^-ca 


•  in  Peru,. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


'~2r»S2:=— xs^s:,r£r'"'-~^^ 


2C1 


I  Republic,. 


265 


CHILI. 

CHAPTER    I. 


March  Southward;  the  Araucania';    .   .       .   '.'  """'""="""  "f'"*  Q"'"ot«n  Mi„;^"V:,^;'      ' 


vla's 


CHAPTER  II. 

on  of  Arniicanin ; 


iHltle  at  the  Andalien  •   Tnvn.i 

5 

^lortality  amonff  iho  Tn^i  ^.  CHiriEK  m. 


269 


Caupolicnn  the  Y,„,ng„ ;  .SlirnRl  S„po,.         ^«*1'teb  iv. 


2t<(l 


2S5 


289 


Renewal  of  War;  Peace  of  I771.  p  ''"^i'tkh  t. 

FLORIDA. 

^      -  imnnw,  Cmitesta  Willi 

295 


10 


CONTENTS, 


nUAPTKIl     II.  P10E 

Delusive  Report  of  an  Indian ;  DiSBStroua  Wiirch  through  the  Interior ;  King  Tuscaloosa— His  Stale 
and  Ilaughtineas ;  His  Secret  Treachery  ;  Great  Battle  at  Mauvila ;  Conflagration  of  the  Town,  and 
Victory  of  the  Spaniards ;  Mutinous  Spirit  of  the  Cavaliers ;  Despondency  of  De  Soto ;  He  resumes 
the  March, ^^ 

CHAPTER    III. 

De  Soto  marches  Westward ;  Losses  from  Indian  Hostility ;  Reaches  and  Crosses  the  MISBlsslppl ; 
Marches  to  Arkansas ;  Returns  to  the  Mississippi ;  His  Death  and  Burial ;  Fate  of  the  Survivors ; 
their  Voyage  lo  Mexico, •'(12 

OHAPTKK    IV. 

Early  French  Settlements ;  Bloody  Contests  between  the  Spanish  and  French  Colonists ;  Spanish 
Missions;  English  Depredations  and  Colonization  on  the  Coast;  Invasions  of  Florida  by  Gov- 
ernor Moore, 3116 

CHAPTER    V. 

TheYemasees;  Invasion  of  Florida  by  Oglethorpe ;  Cession  to  Great  Britain ;  Dr.  Turnbull's  Colony ; 
Recession  to  Spain ;  Invasion  of  East  Florida  from  the  United  States ;  Acquisition  of  Florida  by 
the  United  States, 31 J 

SOUTH-AMERICAN    REVOLUTIONS. 

COLOMBIA. 

CHAPTER   1. 

Loyalty  of  the  Spanish  Colonists ;  Arrogance  and  Tyranny  of  their  Rulers ;  Causes  of  the  Revolution ; 
tlie  Establishment  of  Juntas;  Massacre  at  Quito ;  the  Junta  of  Curacoas  in  Venezuela ;  Commence- 
ment of  Uustilities;  Declaration  of  Independence, 316 

CHAPTBR    II. 

The  Affairs  of  New  Grenada;  Expulsion  of  the  Spaniards  from  Santa  Fe  and  Quito;  Dissensions 
of  the  Republicans;  Advantages  of  the  Royalists— their  Cruelly;  the  "Army  of  Death;"  Fresh 
Massacre  at  Quito ;  Alteriiale  Successes  of  the  Patriots  and  Royalists ;  the  Earthqniiko  at  Caraccaa ; 
its  Effect;  Overthrow  of  the  Liberals, 319 

CHAPTER    III. 

Simon  Bolivar— His  Generous  and  Patriotic  Spirit;  His  Successes  against  the  Royalists;  Assisted  l)y 
New  Granada ;  He  Reenters  C'araccas ;  "  War  to  the  Death  ;"  tlie  Servile  Insurrection  and  War ; 
Cruel  Deed  of  Bolivar ;  Battles  with  the  Royalists ;  Renewed  rruslration  of  the  Republican  Cause,  3*23 

OHAPTFR   IV. 

Restoration  of  Ferdinand  ;  Extinction  of  Loyally  in  the  Colcmies;  Tyrannical  Policy  of  the  King; 
Spirilcil  Conduct  of  the  Congress  of  New  Granada ;  Dissensions  of  the  Republicans ;  Injudicious 
Conduct  of  Bolivar, 325 

CHAPTER    V. 

Arrival  of  the  Spanish  Army,  under  Morlllo;  Terrible  Blockade  of  Carthagena;  Renewed  Exerlions 
of  the  Patriots ;  AlliToate  Successes ;  Morillo  Conq\iera  New  (iraiuina ;  Severities  exercised  on  the 
Vanquished;  Marches  into  Venezuela;  Successful  Defence  of  Margarita  by  the  Patriots, 3S8 

CHAPTER    VI. 

Altitude  of  Foreign  Nations;  British  Volunteers;  Campaign  of  Bolivar  in  New  Granada  ;  Brilliant 
Successes;  Defeat  and  FliBht  i>rilie  Uoyalists;  Gratitude  of  the  People;  Union  of  the  Hliites  of  New 
Granada  and  Venezuela  under  the  title  of  Colombia ;  Reverses  and  Successes  of  the  Patriots, Xti 

OHAPTKR  VII. 

Revolution  in  Spain;  Overtures  of  the  Spanish  Leaders;  Resolution  of  the  Patriots;  the  Armistice; 
the  War  renewed;  Humane  Policy  of  Bolivar;  Signal  Victories  of  Ibn  Republicans;  the  Spaniards 
Completely  Expelled  from  Columbia ;  independence  of  that  State  acknowledged, 3'ia 


Dif 

r 

u 

Urai 
er 
C( 

Braz 
Pn 
an( 
the 

Fligh 
Tra 
Insi 
Bru: 

Impnl( 

peiii 

Dim. 

Rio; 

The  Ch 
the  9 
Roya 


BOLIVIA. 


The  Revolution  in  La  Piiz ;  a  Junta  established  ;  the  City  taken  by  the  Royalisis— their  Cruelties ;  the 
Patriot  Army  marches  IVom  Buenos  Ayres— Us  Success  and  Subsequent  Defeat;  Second  Attempt 
Bt  Revoliiliiin  ;  Mass  \erea  in  Cocbabnmba  and  Potosi ;  Seccuid  Expedition  from  Buenos  Ayres— its 
DiscumlUure;  Guerilla  Wtivfaie;  Bolivia  Kmiincipttted  l.iy  the  Victory  <>f  Ayncucho, .,.,,..,  339 


Causes  of  the  RHVoIutioii  in  Hue,,,,,  Aj-ies:  the  Vicor.iv,  :  Im.™  „  ^  r>-  ''*"» 

With  the  Royalists  i„  Upper  Pen.-i„M,mBvl,n        ^  ''  ^'"'""'°''  "'""•  '''"«;  ^Var» 

Video;  i;iectionof  Pueyredon  a»  SuproLe  D.^c'ctor  '       ''  ""^  *""""'  *^'"'  "^ '*'"""' 

' .143 

Continued  ite8i,la„ce  of  the  Banda  Orllu.1  "" '"""'""«" '"  ^''''"  '  '^PP«^  P"™  i 

' 347 

4ir  ■       ,       «,  CHAPTER    III 


316 


in?; 

ions  I 

....  325  I 


'•  PART  III. 

THE    PORTUGUESE    U   AMERICA. 

BRAZIL. 

Dutch;  their  Expulsion  from  B„-uiJ, "......        ®"™'''«''  '""  ««<=»";  Imp-'licy  of  the 

3.53 

Brazil  a  P«,al  Colony;  the  Result;  Ormresaio,?  of  Ih^v'^- 
era.  Appointed;  Story  of  Caratn/nu    B      a  2 '-^t-Tv'      "■I'"'"'  '^^'™'  '^~r-,en- 
Orusade  «t  Cannlhaiisu, ;  war  ;ith  th;S:„::^n;I™^:;;^^^^^ 

359 

363 

Impolent  Demonstration  of  ,he  Portuguese  G  °ver7m^e"  l^  n„„  p  . 
pendenco  of  Brazil  declare.l;  P,.,|ro  proclnimJd  P^'  ^""^ ^''^'"  proclaimed  Protector;  md,- 
.inicuhies  With  the  De„n,cr„cy;  M,s,n,le  ,n       If '     ::;^;  f '™'  "^  "-  •'"""Kue,e  Troop  ; 
Ru. ;  Abdication  of  Do,n  Pedro,  and  his  Retrea"  to  Ponut,  ''"     '  ''"""""  '"'"'"''""  -^ 

' 306 

The  Child  Dom  Pedro  It  •  the  Trinl„  p         ''"'^"'•«  vi 
-  M^,ri,y  Of  the  k;.:::^  itS^r^!;!!:^- ^  '-^o-or  M.na;  Presh  Revolution; 
Royal  Marr.,«es;  Capabilitie,  and  Nece»si,i;,  of  B^J"!  .  ^Z""''''''''-''''''''™"'  ««-'»"";  ">« 

370 


339 


■J2  CONTENTS. 


PART  IV. 


THE    DUTCH    IN   AMERICA. 

THE   NEW   NETHERLANDS. 

CHAPTER   I.  PAOR 

Cnptnin  Henry  Hudson ;  his  Voyages  in  Search  of  ii  Northerly  Possnge  to  China;  Employed  by  tlie 
Dutch  East  India  Company ;  Sails  in  (ho  Half-XInon ;  Cruises  along  the  American  Coast  in  Search 
of  a  North-west  Passage;  Discovers  and  Ascends  the  Hudson  River;  Dealings.wlth  the  Indians,.. .  373 

OHAPTICn    II. 

Hudson  turns  Homeward;  Murderous  Hostilities  with  the  Indiana;  his  Return  to  England;  his  I.a»t 
Voyage  and  Discovery  ;  Sufferings  during  the  Winter;  HenryGreen;  Mutinyof  the  Crew;  Hudson 

and  Others  set  Adrift  to  Perish, 376 

chai'TKH  III. 

Voyages  of  the  Dutch  to  Mannahata;  Expedition  of  Blok  and  Chrlstiaanse;  New  Amsterdam  (New 
York)  founded;  Colony  Plunte<l  on  the  Dilawnre— Singularly  Destroyed;  Governors  Miniiitand 
VanTwiiler;  Settlement  of  the  Pwedeson  the  Delaware, 3*9 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Governor  Keifl;  Governor  Stnyvesant— his  Character— he  Subdues  the  Swedes ;  Untenable  Claims  of 
the  English ;  Grant  by  Charles  II.  to  the  Duke  of  York  ;  New  Amsterdam  taken  by  Colonel  Nic- 
oUs— Retaken  by  the  Dutch;  FimilCussiun  to  Eut'land, 382 


PART  V. 


THE   FRENCH   IJI   AMERICA. 

CANADA. 

CHAPTKH    I, 

Early  Fishing  Voyages ;  Giovanni  Verrnznno ;  bin  Voyage  in  the  Dauphin ;  Arrives  at  North  America ; 
Description  of  the  Country;  its  Iiihabilanis  ;  Verriiziino  coasts  Northerly;  Kidnapping;  the  Great 
Harbour;  Friendliness  of  the  Indians;  Verrazaiio  sails  to  Labrador;  Returns  to  France ;  his  Sub- 
sequent Fate, 3d8 

CHAPTER    II. 

Jacques  Cartier  Discovers  the  St.  T.awrerce;  his  Second  Voyage;  Qnebec;  Hochelngn,  or  Montreal ; 
Friendly  Indians;  Treacherous  Kidunpi>ing  l)y  Cartier;  Expedition  of  Roberval  and  Cartier;  Mis- 
fortunes and  Failure;  Attempts  under  Henry  IV.;  Pontgravii,  Champlain,  and  De  .Moots;  their 
Expedition, 390 

CHAPTKB    III. 

Champlain  Founds  Quebec— makes  War  on  the  Iroquois- Founds  M(uitreal ;  Expeditions  with  the 
Ilurons ;  his  Discouragoments ;  lnc(uisideriible  Settlements ;  Cninida  taken  by  the  English ;  Rest(jred  ; 
the  Company  of  Now  Franco;  Death  of  Champlain— his  Character, 393 

CHAPTKR  IV. 

Aduiinialratiim  of  Monlmngiiy;  tJnpfosporous  Condition  of  the  Province;  D'Areonson ;  D'Avan- 
gour;  Tiiumpha  of  the  Iroquois;  Eailh(iunke;  Riiintbixemenls  from  France;  Mesey ;  Tracy;  de 
C'ouiceiles;  the  Comte  de  Friuitenac— his  Character;  Turbulent  Administration  ;  de  la  Itiirre— his 
Expediliim  aitainst  ihe  Iroquois— its  Failure;  Celebrated  Speech  of  Garangula;  Magnanimous 
Conduct  of  the  Iroquois, 397 

CHAPTER   V. 

Do  Nonville  Governor;  his  Treachery  to  Ihe  Iroquois;  Renewed  Hostilities ;  Treaty  of  Peace ;  Broken 
by  Treachery:  Extraordinary  Stnilngem  of  Le  Tint,  a  lliinin  riiicf;  Terrible  Invasion  by  the  Ini- 
quois,  and  Massacre  of  Ihi'  French ;  Desperate  Condition  (jf  liie  Colony, 403 


CONTKXTS. 


I...dUion  of  Frontonuci. I^^'P''"  Wi''^' Quebec ;  Ke„uwed  Wars  wilh  the  Iroquois  ;  Ex- 


CHAPTER    VII. 


4U5 


TreMy  or  U,recht;  Kx.e„«io„  „,/^  ,1  ;;;;^"-'  "^^^^^^^^^ 

Pn.8,,erityofOa,m.la, pi<'V.n,e„t  of  Ihe  Province;  De  Beuuhariu.is ;  Peace  and 


40S 


E"cro,:cl.n,enl3  of  (he  Frencli  •  F„«  r,     ,^''"*''™"  ^'" 
r.H>.U  a„d  Dea.,.;  Co,..:.  U^.^r.^''^.!  'I^  "''":'  "^'''^  ^^'>'^''^"""  "^  nr„d,.ock-h,, 

I^eicu.  o,  Aberorun.bie  at  T.conde  o;,     '       "'  ""'""""''  "'  "">  ^»«««h-.h«ir  Surerlor  Fore 


411 


CHAPTEK    IX. 


PrepiimtiOMs  r„r  the  C.nnuesI  of  rnn.,rl«.   4  ' 
;h.'  .Venoh  o„  the  U^U  of  lb:'   tr:;  W.t'  T:  ■"""'"'•'«''  '"  «'"'"-  =  n^^-t  of 

414 

ACADIA,  ETC. 

Accniintof  (he  Acudians- th  f  chapter  u. 

"'^'  '^fl^^'""'8  Memorial;  their  Fate,  420 
CAPE   BRETON,   ETC. 
Cession  of  the  French  Prov'  chapteh    i. 


43C 


I-OUISIANA. 


L«fnlle-hisA..empta  to  reach  China T     ''"^""^^    "  ^'^ 

'"-"-.■oci.,.;::":!!:::-:'-:-'--~.ofj 

430 

Kxpedill.m  of  l,„  (Sail,,  by  "Sea  In  o  ''"^pteu  m 


u 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    IV.  PAflB 

NcKlect  of  the  Mlnaisslppl  Valley;  Expedition  i)f  I-eim-inr  D'!hervillp-he  Fornidd  Hotllempnls  nt 
iiiloxi,  Mobilu,  Biid  iBit)  Diiuphine ;  Tuiill ;  Unpnwpeidua  C.iii.liilon  of  houiauiim  ;  Deuth  ol  D'lhur- 
villu  ;  hirt  llroltier  BiHiivill.! ;  OiDZat ;  Uiti  .Mi»si»Bi|.pi  C\inipuii>  j  (Jruiit  lmniii;ruli<>n,  Suffi'iiim,  ""d 
Aliirliility;  Nuw  Oileuiis  Foiiiided;  Coiilimied  liiimlsraliuii;  Vast  ExIeiU  of  Luiiisinna, 4:18 

CaATTKR    '/. 

Ilujlility  of  the  Natchez;  their  Injuries;  Vain  Romimsirance ;  PlanfortheDestrucllon  of  the  French; 
Massacio  ul  Fuit  Rosalie;  Campaisn  npjiiin!.!  tlic  NHicbc?. ;  Flight  and  Final  UcMiuclion  of  the  Trili.. ; 
War  with  the  Chlcaaaws;  Diaaiitrous  CanipniKii  of  D'.Vrtcgrotlo  and  Bienville  ;  (Jieat  Lobs  of  the 
Frsuch  and  thoir  Allies ;  Unsulislactory  Uesult  of  a  Second  Cumpaign, 442 

CHAPTKH   VI. 

Prdsperlly  of  Louisiana ;  Undisturbed  by  War ;  augiir-cune  Inlrnducod ;  Coinmnnccmpnt  of  Trou- 
hlfs  with  the  Englisli ;  the  Ohio  Company ;  Resisted  by  IJu  Quesno;  the  Virginia  Expedition  nn.ler 
Wiishinglon  ;  War  with  the  French  of  Canada,  &c. ;  Tuliing  of  Fort  D«  Quusne ;  Overtlirow  of  Ibo 
French  in  Canada;  PnblioReliminii'hment  of  a  Part  of  liouiaiana  to  England,  and  Secr(^t  Cession 
of  the  Retnuiiider  to  Spain ;  Vain  Remonstrance, 

OUAPTKR   711. 

Arrival  of  ailonaa  Spanish  fiovcrnor-hls  Olmtinacy-his  Expulsion  from  the  Conntry;  Arrival  of 
O'Reilly-his  Perfidy  and  Cruelly  ;  Five  Citizens  Executed  ;  Tyranny  of  O'Reilly  ;  Creat  Emigration 
from  Louisiana— that  Province  Kucoded  to  france-doid  by  Napoioou  to  the  United  Stales, 


445 


448 


PART  I. 


THE  JfOETHMEI  II  AMEEICA. 


.    CHAPTER   L 

ANCIENT  ABORIGINAL  RACES.  — THE  SCANDINAVIAN  VOYAGERS 
—DISCOVERY  OF  ICELAND.  — EIREK  THE  RED,  — DISCOVERY  AND 
SETTLEMENT  OF  GRE^LAND.  — NORTH   AMERICA  ACCIDENT- 
ALLY DISCOVERED  BY  BIARNI  HERIULF80N.  — VOYAGE         ' 
OF  LEIF  EIREK80N.  — AMERICA   NAMED  VINLAND  — 
THE   VOYAGE   AND  DISCOVERIES  OF  THORVALD.— 
HIS  DEATH. — ATTEMPT  OF  THORSTEIN. 

.  The  history  of  those  ancient  races,  :;^hich,  before  the  coming  of 
Europeans,  for  immemorial  ages,  inhabited  our  continent,  is  for  the 
mo.t  part,  at  this  day  dissolved  in  vague  tradition,  or  locked  un  i„ 
mscrutable  hieroglyphic.  Excepting  the  two  great  semi-civiLd 
empires  of  Mexico  and  Peru,  (to  be  noticed  in  their  appropriate 
place,)  scarcely  a  record  has  survived  of  the  nations,  once'o  numer- 
ous and  powerful,  which,  from  limited  but  certain  evidence  ar^  known 
to  have  existed  in  the  Western  Worid  Thev  "dipd  nnf  7 
sign/'  beyond  rude  and  massive  erecti^ns'tS  ct'f.Z' T^'^ 
ni.ght  ass,gn  them  to  almost  any  race,  that,  after  partially  c  imbi^i 

ton,  lapsed  into  barbarism  or  vanished  altogether.  Occasional 
glimpses  as  we  proceed,  will  be  caught  of  the  m^onuments  aTdTr " 
d  t,ons  of  these  long-vanished  communities;  but  the  true  history  of 
the  American  continent  may  be  said  to  date  from  the  first  aS  on 
Its  shores  of  European  discoverers.  •arrival  on 

_    That  arrival,  for  several  centuries  strangely  ignored  by  the  histor 
.calworid^w.much^eariierthanh.asbcen^coL%nlysup'^^^^^^^ 


18 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


manuscriiits  of  unquestioned  authenticity,  by  the  most  perfect  con- 
sistence and  coincidence  of  details,  and  by  a  host  of  corroborative 
facts,  it  lias  been  made  evident  that  the  American  continent,  five  cen- 
turies before  the  incmorablo  voyage  of  Columbus,  was  discovered 
and  frequently  visited  by  men  of  European  race.  Witliout  delaying 
to  cite  authorities  or  adduce  evidence  on  a  matter  so  fully  elucidated 
by  others,  we  shall  proceed  briefly  to  present  the  facts  as  accepted  by 
the  most  exact  and  scrupulous  antiquarians  of  our  day. 

Nine  hundred  years  ago,  the  mariners  of  the  Scandinavian  penin- 
sula were  the  most  daring,  skilful,  and  successful  of  their  age.  Their 
voyages,  distinguished  by  a  strange  mixture  of  commerce,  piracy, 
and  discovery,  added  no  little  to  the  geogr.iphical  knowledge  of  their 
day.  In  tlie  year  861,  they  discovered  Iceland,  and,  fourteen  years 
afterwards,  planted  a  colony  there.  The  main  stepping-stone  to 
America  thus  gained,  a  century  elapsed  before  any  further  progress 
was  made  in  a  western  direction.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  a  Norwe- 
gian named  Thorvald,  with  his  son,  the  famous  Eirek  the  Red,  flying 
their  country  on  account  of  homicide,  took  refuge  in  Iceland,  ilero 
Thorvald  died,  and  Eirek,  his  hands  again  imbued  with  blood,  was 
forced  again  to  take  refuge  on  the  high  sens.  lie  sailed  westward, 
in  quest  of  certain  islands,*  and  ere  long  fell  in  with  the  shores  of 
Greenland  (9S2).  Coasting  to  its  southern  extremity,  he  selected 
the  site  for  a  colony  at  a  harbour  which  he  called  Eireksfiord  (Eirek's 
creek).  lie  then  returned  to  Iceland,  and  by  his  inviting  descrip- 
tions of  the  newly-found  land,  (which  he  called  Greenland)  indueed 
great  numbers  to  join  him  in  his  projected  settlement.  With  twenty- 
five  vessels,  in  985,  he  again  set  sail,  but  on  account  of  foul  weather, 
only  eleven  reached  the  destined  harbour.  A  flourishing  colony  was 
soon  established,  and  as  it  increased  in  numbers,  fresh  explorations, 
rivalling,  and,  considering  the  means,  surpassing  modern  enterprise, 
were  made  in  the  icy  seas  of  the  Arctic  regions.  The  monuments 
of  these  ancient  explorers  have  been  found  as  far  north  as  latitude 
73°,  and  it  is  su]iposcd  that  their  surveys  extended  much  farther. 

One  Ileriulf,  a  person  of  consideration,  had  sailed  with  Eirek  in 
his  second  expedition.  His  son,  named  Biarni,  was  absent  in  Nor- 
way at  the  time,  and  on  his  return  to  Iceland,  found  that  his  father 
had  departed  for  the  newly-discovered  region.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  courage  and  enterprise,  and,  vowing  that  he  would  spend  the 

*  "The  roeks  of  Gunnbiorn"— lost,  for  nine  hundred  years,  to  geography,  and 
only  recovered  by  a  recent  expedition. 


THE  NORTHMEN   IN   AMERICA. 


19 


was 


winter  with  his  father,  as  he  had  always  done,  set  forth  to  find  the 
little  settlement  on  the  unknown  shores  of  Greenland.  A  north- 
east gale  sj^rung  up,  and  for  many  days  he  was  driven  before  it,  with- 
out seeing  land.  At  last  ho  fell  in  with  a  coast  in  the  west,  wooded 
and  somewhat  hilly.  No  landing  was  made,  and  the  anxious  mari- 
ners, sailing  for  two  days  to  the  northward,  found  another  land, 
low  and  level,  and  overgrown  with  woods.  Not  recognizing  the 
mountains  and  the  icebergs  which  he  expected  to  find,  Biarni,  with 
a  south-west  wind,  for  three  days  more  sailed  northerly.  Ho  then 
came  upon  a  great  island,  with  high  mountains  and  much  ice,  but 
made  no  attempt  to  land  on  its  desolate  and  forbidding  shores. 
Four  days  more,  driven  before  a  violent  wind  from  the  south-west, 
ho  continued  his  voyage  to  higher  latitudes,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
time,  by  a  piece  of  singular  good  fortune,  chanced  to  light  on  the 
very  location  of  the  Icelandic  settlement. 

From  the  internal  evidence  afforded  by  the  dates  and  the  courses 
of  this  remarkable  voyage,  as  well  as  from  the  corroboration  of  sub- 
sequent expeditions,  it  would  appear  that  these  tempest-driven  mar- 
iners, long  scudding  before  a  north-east  gale,  yet  heading  to  the 
westward  as  much  as  possible,  finally  brought  up  somewhere  on  the 
shores  of  New  England.      The  first  land  seen,  judging  from  the 
descriptions,  was   probably  Nantucket  or  Cape   Cod.      Two-days'  - 
sailing  would   easily  bring    them  to  the  level  and    forest-covered 
shores  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  three  more  to  the  bleak  and  precipitous 
coast  of  Newfoundland.    From  that  island  to  the  soutiiern  extremity 
of  Greenland,  the  distance  is  but  six  hundred  miles,  which  a  vessel 
running  before  a  favourable  gale,  might  readily  accomplish  within 
the  given   time.      To  no  other  region  of  coast  in  the  vicinity  of 
Greenland  will  the  dates  and  descriptions  so  accurately  apply,  and 
little  doubt  can  exist  that  America,  by  this  accidental  voyage'  was 
first  laid  open  to  men  of  European  race. 

About  ten  years  afterwards,  Biarni  made  a  voyage  to  Norway, 
where  the  account  of  his  discoveries  excited  much  interest;  ami 
when  Leif  the  son  of  Eric,  four  years  later,  went  to  the  court  of 
Olaf  Tryggvason,  king  of  that  country,  he  heard  the  adventurer 
much  blamed  for  neglecting  to  prosecute  his  discoveries.  Stimulated 
by  these  conferences,  he  resolved  to  attempt  a  voyage  in  quest  of 
the  new  lands;  and  having  received  baptism  with  all  his  crew, 
returned  to  Greenland,  bearing  with  him  the  germ  of  northern  Chris- 
tianity, and  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  discovery. 


20 


THE  PEOPLE'S    BOOK  OF   HISTORY. 


IIo  bought  the  vessel  of  Biariii,  and,  with  thirty-five  men,  some 
of  whom  may  have  been  on  the  former  voyage,  in  the  year  1000, 
set  sail  in  search  of  the  desired  region.  lie  first  came  in  sight  of 
the  mountainous  and  sterile  coa.st  last  seen  by  Biarni,  and  landed,  but 
found  little  or  no  ti'accs  of  vegetation.  Naming  it  Ilellu-land— "the 
land  of  broad  stones"  (a  name  strikingly  descriptive  of  the  shores  of 
Newfoundland),  he  proceeded  southerly  to  the  low  and  wooded  coasts 
of  Nova  Scotia,  which  he  called  Markland— "the  land  of  woods." 
Next  he  came  to  an  island  (probably  Nantucket)  lying  opposite  to 
a  north-east  projection  of  the  main  land.  Between  this  island  and 
the  promontory  he  steered  westward,  remarking  the  shoals  and  cur- 
rents which  still  render  difficult  the  navigation  of  that  passage. 

Keeping  westward,  the  voyagers  "passed  up  a  river,  and  thence 
into  a  lake."  This  channel,  it  would  seem,  was  the  Seaconnet  river, 
the  eastern  outlet  of  Narragansett  bay,  and  leading  to  the  beautiful 
lake-like  expanse  of  water  now  known  as  Mount  Hope  Bay.  On 
the  shores  of  this  lake,  they  built  habitatiojis  and  passed  the  winter, 
fishing  for  salmon,  which  abounded,  and  charmed  with  the  compara- 
tive mildness  of  the  climate.  On  the  shortest  day,  the  sun  remained 
above  the  horizon  from  half-past  seven  in  the  morning  to  half-past 
four  in  the  afternoon — a  circumstance  indicating  the  latitude  with 
almost  absolute  certainty,  and,  allowing  for  slight  inaccuracy  in  their 
computation,  corresponding  to  the  situation  of  Mount  Hope  Bay. 

In  exploring  the  country  on  their  arrival,  one  Tyrker,  a  German, 
stayed  late,  and  the  others  went  in  search  of  him.  They  found  him 
in  ecstacies  of  joy  at  the  discovery  of  a  vine  laden  with  fruit— tho 
delicious  flavor  of  which  had  so  transported  his  thoughts  to  his 
native  land  (the  land  of  the  grape)  that  for  some  time  he  could 
answer  them  only  in  German.  Great  quantities  of  this  pleasant 
fruit  were  found,  and  these  natives  of  the  chilling  north,  deli<;htod 
at  the  unaccustomed  luxury,  filled  their  large  boat  with  a  plentiful 
supply.  All  the  early  voyagers  to  this  coast,  speak  of  the  profusion 
of  wild  grapes  with  which  it  abounds.  Martha's  Vineyard  and  the 
Vineyard  Sound,  in  tlie  immediate  vicinity,  no  doubt  received  their 
names  from  this  circumstance.  Leif,  in  joy  at  its  delicious  produc- 
tions, bestowed  on  it  the  name  ofVinland  the  Good— a  name  which 
it  bears  in  all  the  ancient  chronicles  and  geographies.  In  the  sprinc' 
of  1001,  with  his  grapes  and  a  freight  of  timber,  lie  made  his  way 
back  to  Greenland,  wiiere,  in  commemoraiion  of  his  enterprise  and 
success,  he  w^is  ever  after  called  "Leif  the  Lucky,"     During  the 


THE  NORTHMEN   IN   AMERICA.  gl 

ensuing  winter,  by  the  death  of  his  father,  Eirek,  he  Huccecded  to 
the  chief  authority  in  Greenland. 

When  spring  came  on  (1002)  Thorvahl,  his  younger  brother,  a 
man  of  great  courage  and  enterprise,  with  thirty  companion.,  set 
sail  for  Vmland;  but  owing  to  his  death  on  the  return,  r,w  particu- 
lars of  this  voyage,  perhaps  the  most  interesting  and  important  of 
his  day,  have  survived.     With  his  company,  he  arrived  at  Leif.bu- 
d.r  (Leifs  booths),  where  his  brother  had  encamped,   and  there 
passed  the  winter.     The  next  spring  (1003)  lie  explored  the  coa^t 
n  a  south-west  direction  for  a  great  distance,  proceeding,  it  has  been 
thought,  a.  far  as  the  Carolinas.     The  coast,  it  is  corr;etly  stated, 
was  mostly  wooded,  with  white,  sandy  shores 
During  the  summer  (1004)  Thorvald,  with  a  part  of  his  crew 

eries      Here  his  vessel  was  stranded   and  compelled  to  ston  for 
repairs;  and  the  adventurer,  setting  up  the  keel 'of  ht    hir  o„  the 

ofTetSnrThe"  ""^t^""^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^  '^  « l^tLn 
ot  the  accident.    Thence  sailmg  west,  he  soon  made  land,  somewhere 

would  seem,  not  far  from  Boston.     The  Northmen  landed  on  a 

to  me  so  p  easant  a  place  to  f1w«ll  ir..        \.         ,     ^  wnicn  seemed 

ma„ds,Lturned  to'leLjir^w^^^^^^^^^  '"^'"^^  ^"'^  -- 

the  next  spring  (1005   thov     ^  f  °''7^''^  ^  ^"'"^^  ^^ ^"«d  grapes, 

fiord.  Suc'h  ar'e  Tbr  I^tl  "^h  h"'"'  "  'T'  ''  ""'^^ 
no  doubt  the  most  extei  ded t^elt  rt  '''  7"'''"^  '^  ""  ^^^"8^' 
the  Northmen  enterprising  of  any  undertaken  by 

of  IcS;:^  ?S'd- tvS  "1  rr' ''-  ''-'-^'  ^-^-- 

his  brother      Rut  after  Z'  '      '^  ^""^'"^  ^°">«  '^'  body  of 


22 


TIIK   I' Kol'l,  IC'H    1U)(»K   OK   HISTOUY. 


|)oit  oil  tlio  nistcrii  i-oiiMt  of  (iriMMilaiid,  wlicro,  not  loii^^  iiftnr,  ho 
(tit-d.  (Iiidritt,  Ills  willow,  fainouH  lor  lior  hotiiity  luul  disorotion, 
wont  to  tlwoll  at  Hnittiililid,  iit  tho  houHO  of  Leif,  lit-r  brother-in-luw. 


UiLltiixXiTiJii       il* 

TIIH    VOYAdK   OK   THOIIVINN    KAlll.HKKNl.  —  WOIISIIII'  OP  MK   OOU 

TIIOK  IN  AMKIUCA.  —  TUANSIKNT  SKTTI.KM  KNTH.  —  FHJIIT  Wlfll 

TIIK  INIMANS  --IIKTUHN,  —  NOIII,  K  CONDtM'T  OP  III  A  UN  I  (IKI- 

M  0 1,  F  S  0  N ,  —  M  K  N  T  I  0  N   OH    V  1  N  I,  A  N  l»    IN    MANY    A  \  U  I  K  N  T 

CHU0N1CLK8.  —  TIIK   8T0IIY    OK    IllORN    A8BIIANIIS0V 

ICELANDIC  IIKMAINS.  —  A  OONJ  KCTIMIKD  WKI.HII  COLONY. 


Anoi'Iiku  adviMituniiiH  iiiariiicr,  ore  loiij^,  uiidortook  tlio  (Mitorjiriso. 
Tliorliiin  Karlsrl'iii,  or  'I'lic  Arliifirr,  an  Ii-tdaiidcr  of  wealth  and  fam- 
ily, in  tho  uutunin  of  lOOfl,  saihul  on  a  voyago  of  coinnien-e  with  a 
huge  oonipaiiy  in  two  ships  for  (Ireenland.  Tlioy  mot  with  kind 
oiitortaiiunont  from  Loif,  and  passed  a  merry  winter,  Thorllnn  being 
married  to  (.iudriil.  Mueh  talk  was  held  eoneerning  V^inland,  and 
as  spring  came  on,  a  fresh  oxpoilition  was  jilannod.  Three  vessels 
were  prepared,  aln^ard  whit-h  went  Thorfinn  and  his  wife,  with  his 
friends,  Snorri  Tliovhrandson,  Hiarni  Ciriii-  >lfson  and  others,  Frey- 
dis,  tho  daughter  of  Kirek,  with  her  husband  Thorvani,  and  many 
others,  amounting  in  all  to  an  hundivd  and  sixty  souls.  A  variety 
of  live  stock  was  taken  on  board,  for  tho  w^o  of  tho  projected  colony ; 
and  in  tho  spring  of  1007,  the  little  (loot  .set  sail. 

'Pouehing  at  several  point.s,  the  v(\vagei"s  eamo  to  TTdlu-land,  with 
its  vast  flat  stone.s,  theneo  to  Markland,  and  .so  to  Kialar-nes.s,  wliero 
they  found  tfio  keel  lately  sot  »ip  by  tho  ill-fated  Thorvald.  Coast- 
ing ahnig  the  desolate  shores  of  Cape  Cod  fwhieh  tliey  called  Fur- 
dustvandir — "Long,"  or  "Wondoi;-.'.  P^.ore^,")  they  came  to  a  bay, 
and  put  on  shore  two  Seot.s,  a  maM  .and  ;i  v  -man,  wh(  n;  King  Olaf 
hail  given  Leif,  and  who  were  '-wifler  ot  loot,"  we  are  tohl,  "than 
wild  aniiual.s."  These  light-footed  eouriers  ran  a  considerable  distance 
inland,  and  returned  with  a  bunch  of  grapes  and  an  ear  of  corn. 

Keeping  along  shore,  the  explorers  came  to  a  bay,  with  an  island 
opposite     -hich,  on  account  of  the  strength  of  the  current,  they  called 


TIIK   NOKTHMEN    IN    AMKRICA.  23 

Stmuin-flonl,  or  Bay  of  .StrcjuiiH,  uml  wliicli,  it  is  probable,  wiia  what 
in  now  known  as  IJiizzarcl'M  Huy.  Here,  llndinj,'  good  pasturage  for 
their  c'lttlo,  they  (li.sciiibarkeil,  ami  j)asMc<i  tlio  winter.  Soon  aller 
tlu'ir  huuling,  a  Kon  wa«  born  to  TiiorHiin  and  (Judrid.  Thin 
cliihl,  Siiorri  ThorlinnMon,  probidily  tlio  flrst  born  in  Anieriea  of 
European  parents,  beeauie  the  founder  of  a  k)ng  linoof  di.stiiigui.shed 
dcseiMukintM.  Among  tiiese  may  bo  mentioned  the  k-arned  bi.siiop 
Thorhd<  liunollHon,  hia  grandson,  who  prcbuhly  eonipiled  the 
uceounta  of  these  voyages,  and  Thorwaldscn,  the  famous  seulptor  of 
our  own  day. 

A  singular  ineidcnt  illustrates  the  superstition  of  the  ago  and  the 
rceeney  of  tiio  eonversion  of  these  j)eoplc  to  Christiainty.     The  god 
Tlior,  for  the  first  and  jterhaps  tiio  last  time,  was  worshipped  in  the 
Western  neniisj)l)ere.     It  luipj)ened  in  this  wise.     There  liad  sailed 
m  the  expedition,  aays  the  aiieient  narrative,  one  "Tliorhall,  cotn- 
nionly  eailed  the  Hunter,  who  had,  f(.r  many  years,  been  tlu!  iumts- 
man  of  Kirek  during  the  .summer,  and  his  steward  during  the  winter. 
This  Thorhall  was  a  man  of  gigantic  stature  and  of  great  strength 
and  swarthy  in  eomplexion;  he  wius  a  man  of  very  lew  words,  anc! 
when  he  did  sj)eak,  it  was  ehiefly  in  a  railing  way;  to  Kirek  he  liad 
over  given  evil  counsel;  and  ho  was  besides  a  very  indilfrrent  Chris- 
tiaii.    lie  possessed,  however,  much  knowledge  of  uninhabited  lands  " 
rhe  winter  proving  severe,  the  colonists  endured  much  sufierin<r 
from  scai'city,  and  all  their  prayers  appeared  vain.     In  this  time  of 
lamine,  Thorhall  disappeared,  and  for  three  days  fruitless  search  was 
made  for  hnn      "On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,"  j.rocceds  tho 
narrative,     rhorfinn  and  Biarni  Grimolfson  found  him  lying  on  the 
top  of  a  rock.      There  he  lay,  stretched  out,  with  his  eyes  open 
blowing  through  his  mouth  and  nose,  and  mumbling  somewhrlt  to 
nmsdf.     riiey  asked  him  why  he  had  gone  there.     lie  answered 
that  it  was  no  business  of  theirs-that  he  was  old  enough  to  tuko 
care  of  liimselt  without  their  troubling  themselves  with  his  aifuirs. 
Ihey  asked  h.m  to  return  home  with  them,  which  he  did.    A  short 
nne  after,  a  whale  w.'is  cast  ashore,  and  they  all  ran  down  ca-erlv 
to  cut  It  up ;  but  none  knew  a.  hat  kind  of  whale  it  was;  even  Thor- 
hnn,  though  well  acquainted  with  whales,  did  not  know  it.     The 
cooks  dressed  the  whale,  and  they  all  eat  of  it,  but  were  all  taken 
sick  immediately  afterwards.     Then  said  ThOrhall,  'Now  you  see 
that  Thor  IS  more  ready  to  give  aid  than  your  Christ.     This  food  is 
the  reward  of  a  hymn  which  I  composed  to  Thor,  my  god,  who 


m 


24 


TlIK   I'EorLK'S   liOUK   OF   IlISTOKY. 


mroly  forsakes  mc'  Wlicu  tlioy  heard  this,  none  would  cat  any 
more;  and  so  thoy  threw  all  the  remainder  of  tho  flesh  froir  the 
rocks,  commending  tliomselves  to  God." 

'Fhis  Thorhall,  in  tho  spring  of  the  following  year  (1008),  sot  forth 
with  a  few  companions  to  sail  around  Kialar-ness  and  make  discov- 
eries; but  was  driven  to  sea  by  westerly  gales,  and  finally,  it  is  said, 
readied  tlie  shores  of  Ireland.  Thorfinn,  with  the  remainder,  in  all 
an  luimlred  and  fifty -one,  pursued  his  course  westward,  and  came  to 
Loifsbudir.  The  region  in  that  vicinity  was  called  by  the  North- 
men, Ib^p.  The  Indian  name  was  Ilaup,  and  the  "lake"  itself,  to 
this  day,  is  called  Mount  Hope  Bay— perhaps  a  mere  coincitlence, 
but  certainly  a  curious  one.  Here  they  had  sight  of  numerous  sav- 
agvs,  who  approached  in  their  canoes,  and,  after  landing  and  staring 
at  tlic  strangers  with  astonishnK..„,  .mbarkcd  and  retired  beyond  a 
I^'omontory  in  the  south-west.  The  summer  and  winter  were  passed 
at  Lcifsbudir,  the  latter  season  proving  so  temperate  that  the  cattlo 
remained  in  the  open  fields  without  shelter.  The  climate,  it  is  prob- 
able, in  that  remote  period,  was  somewhat  milder  in  those  regions 
than  it  is  at  present. 

In  the  spring  of  1009,  great  numbers  of  the  natives  resorted  to 
the  colony  for  traffic— strips  of  red  cloth  being  eagerly  sought,  and 
viiUc  jwrridrje  affording  them  excessive  delight.      But  the°sudden 
a]iiie:u'ance  and  bellowing  of  a  bull  friglitoncd  them  all  to  their 
canoes.     A  few  weeks  afterwards  tliey  returned  in  great  force,  rais- 
ing a  shrill  cry  (probably  the  war  whoop)*  and  giving  signals  of 
(lenancc.     Thorfinn  and  his  men  raised  the  red  shield  (the  northern 
emblem  of  war)  and  a  fierce  battle  coimnenced.     In  the  midst  of  the 
conflict,  Freydis,  the  daughter  of  Kirek,  seeing  her  countrymen  give 
way,  rushed  out  of  her  dwelling,  und  re[)roached  them.     The  Slra-l- 
Ii)ii/s  pursued  her,  ana  being  near  lior  time,  slie  could  not  run  fast. 
''She  saw,"  says  the  chronicle,  "a  man  lying  dead.     This  was  Tlior- 
brand  the  son  of  Snori'i,  in  whose  head  a  jlat  done  was  stickinj.     His 
sword  lay  naked  by  liis  side.     This  she  seized,  and  prepared  to  de- 
fend herself.     The  Skn.'Ilings  came  up  with  her.     She  .-struck  her 
breast  with  the  naked  sword,  whicli  .so  astonished  tlie  Sknrlling.s, 
tliat  they  tied  back  to  their  canoes,  and  rowed  oft^is  fast  as  possil)le.'' 
.Afany  of  the  savages  were  killed,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that 
the  English,  on  their  first  arrival  in  this  ]mrt  of  tlie  countrv,  found 
among  the  Indians  a  \QYy  distinct  tradition  of  tiiis  connic"t,'ol'  the 
*  "  Ukralinqi  mlde  acute  ululcrunt,"  says  tho  I^itiii  translation  of  the  Norse  MS. 


THE  NORTHMEN  IN  AJIEKICA.  o' 

ship  of  the  invaders,  &c.,  though,  of  course,  at  a  loss  to  what  period 
or  wliat  people  to  assign  it. 

Convinced  that  this  place  was  too  perilous  for  his  colony,  Thorfinn 
now  broke  up  his  encampment,  and  returned  to  his  former  quarters 
at  Stmum-licrd.    Abundant  sui)plies  w(;re  found,  and  he  sailed  round 
Ivialar-iiess  in  search  of  the  missing  Thorhall,  but  without  success 
In  the  spring  of  the  following  jear  (1010)  the  whole,  or  a  consider- 
able portion  of  the  company,  in  the  two  remaining  shii)s,  set  sail  for 
Greenland.     That  of  Thorfinn  arrived  safely  at  Eireksfiord;  but  the 
other,  commanded  by  Biarni  Grimolfson,  was  driven  to  sea,  and 
being  riddled  with  worms,  began  to  sink.     Biarni,  with  half  the 
ships  company,  gained  by  lot  the  privilege  of  taking  to  the  boat- 
but  seeing  the  distress  of  a  young  Icelander  left  on  board,  relin- 
quished his  place,  going  back  into  the  ship  and  placing  the  o  her  in 
he  boat-'.for  I  see,"  he  said,  quietly,  ''that  you  are^nd  of  life " 
I  ii.s  generous  action,  and  these  few  words,  the  key  of  a  brave  and 
meditative  spirit  are  all  that  survive  of  this  old  Northern  e  i  f  of 
vvhom  one  could  wish  to  have  known  more.     The  boat  arri  el  in 

Thorfinn  and  his  wife,  having  attained  much  fame  by  their  adven- 
tures, proeeeded  to  Iceland,  where  they  took  up  their  lesidei  ce    uid 

:!T2Z!:lzr ''-'''' '-'  ^---^-^  -^-^  ^^^^^^ 

In  1011  Frcydis  and  her  husband,  with  some  Norway  merchants 

n^ade  another  voyage  to  the  same  region.     Indeed,  to  <i  e   h       ; ' 

guagc  o    the  Norse  MS.,  "Expeditions  to  Vinlund  beea    ^no     ve  J 

n.e.p,eii    matters  of  consideration,  for  that  expedition  was  e  Zo    t 

esteemed  both  lucrative  and  honorable."     In  these  ancient      cor  K 

for  severa    centuries,  re|.eated  allusions  are  made  to  t      couiitt' 

whose  existence  appears  to  have  been  generallv  known  t    tl,         ^   ^' 

to^Z  Europe.     In  an  old  Far^se  bl  Xld:       a'^r 

t.^  Swedish  princes,  are  chronicled  as  crusaders  into  Vinland  ^ 

th     love  of  Ingeborge,   daughter  of  the   king  of  Irel-ui         it  i 

entered  on  the  "Annals  of  W1.„„1'V.        .      o  "i  ^rtiand.      Jt  is 

that  in  1121   Fir.l-  fl    .  1  •  \        V    ^'  contemporaneous  authority), 


26 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


Ill  1285,  Adalbrand  and  Thorvald,  two  brothers,  whose  names  are 
well  known  in  Icelandic  chronicles,  touched  uj>on  a  coast  which, 
i\-om  their  description,  seems  to  have  been  the  Ilellu-land  of  Leif; 
and  the  name  of  "Nyja-fundu-land,"  (Newfoundland)  which  they 
gave  it,  indicates  that  it  was  considered  as  a  country  already  discov- 
ered. It  bears  the  same  name,  in  English,  at  the  jiresent  day.  Three 
years  afterwards,  Eirek  of  Norway,  interested  by  the  particulars  of 
their  cruise,  sent  another  expedition  in  the  same  direction,  the  details 
of  which  have  not  survived.  Many  other  voyages,  casual  or  inten- 
tional, though  unrecorded  or  lost  to  history,  were  undoubtedly  made 
in  the  course  of  the  four  centuries  during  which  Scandinavian  col- 
onies flourished  in  Greenland. 

In  the  fate  of  those  colonies  was  involved  the  history  of  Vinland, 
excepting  the  few  particulars  preserved  in  Iceland,  most  of  which 
we  have  briefly  stated.  A  vast  barrier  of  ice,  which,  according  to 
philosophers,  at  certain  periods  advances  southward  from  the  pole, 
early  in  the  fifteenth  century  cut  off  all  communication  between  the 
parent-country  and  its  distant  colonies  of  Greenland.  When  last 
heard  of,  these  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  villages;  but 
from  the  year  140fi,  for  nearly  three  centuries,  nothing  was  learned 
of  their  fate,  and  hardly  a  bark,  except  that  of  some  adventurous 
whaler,  approached  the  dreary  shores  of  Greenland.  Extensive 
ruins  have  since  been  discovered  along  the  whole  line  of  coast,  but 
no  record  of  the  fate  of  their  inhabitants  has  survived.  Isolated 
from  any  succour  from  Iceland  or  Europe,  and  pinched  by  the 
increasing  coldness  of  the  seasons,  they  probably  perished  by  degrees, 
and  finally  became  extinct.  Early  in  the  last  century,  some  colonies 
were  again  planted  by  Denmark  in  the  same  inhospitable  region. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  personages  whose  existence  is  well 
known  to  history,  are  occasionally  described,  in  old  Norse  manu- 
scripts, as  having  voyaged  to  Vinland  and  other  lands  lying  west  of 
the  Atlantic.  "To  the  South  of  habitable  Greenland,"  says  an 
ancient  work  on  geography,  "there  are  uninhabited  and  wild  tracts, 
and  enormous  icebergs.  The  country  of  the  Skra'llings  lies  beyond 
these;  Markland  bc3^ond  this,  and  Vinland  the  Good  beyoncl  the 
last.  Next  to  this,  and  something  beyond  it,  lies  Albania,  that  is, 
Iluitramannaland,  whither,  formerly,  vessels  came  from  Ireland. 
There  several  Irishmen  and  Iceljinders  saw  and  recognized  Ari,  the 
son  of  Mar  and  Kotlu,  of  Eeykianess,  concerning  whom  nothing 
had  been  heard  for  a  long  time,  and  who  had  been  made  their  chief 


THE  NORTHMEN  IN  AMEEIOA.  g? 

lt'\"  .^"tf '"*'  1'^'  ^'"^•"  '^^"^  ^'''  ^^''''-'  it  is  elsewhere 
frokn/  ?'  7^^7!^"  ^^  ^«™P««'«  '^  ^  ^^Sion  lying  far  west  of 
the  gL')  nuitramanualand,  or  Irland  it  Mikla  (Ireland 

A  most  romantic  account  is  given,  in  another  chronicle,  of  the 
adventures  and  fate  of  Biorn  Asbrandson,  an  Icelandic  her^  noted 
for  his  exploits  m  Pomerania  and  Denmark.  Eeturning  to  his  nat  ve 
sland,  he  fell  m  love  with  Thurid,  wife  of  an  insular  magnate  and 
in  the  frays  provoked  by  the  jealousy  of  the  latter,  slew  feveril  of 
his  ass^.lants.  Like  Eirek  the  Red,  he  was  compelled  to  betke 
himself  to  the  ocean,  and  accordingly,  about  the  year  998  set  s^l 

Landmg,  they  were  seized  by  the  natives,  and  were  carried  b.f 
a  great  assembly,  that  their  fate  might  be  decided      Frf,,' 
gerous  situation  they  were  rescued^y  an  aged  man   t      T  ^"Ji 

people  of  Iceland:  ^d  Z:^  Z^r^^ZTT'  ^ 
golden  ring  to  her,  and  a  sword  to  hn.  t--  ^  ^^"^  » 

tell  his  name,  and  hastened  Ljlre  o^^^^^^^^     '"'  "'"^'  '' 
dangerous  coast.     In  the  'lutunu.  fl    ^  ?     '"  ^"""'^  ^'""'^  ^^^ 

a.Hl  tbenee,  in  ihe  fbt^^l^    ^^^^^ 
where  they  delivered  the  ring  to  tt  t  d  T^?,    T  Tj'  '"'"^^■>' 
Kiartan,  of  whom  Biorn  bnd  1  ^  ""^  ^"'^  ^^'"^  «^^-"''^l  to 

«l.;"n,.,„„,  „„d  tl,at  11,0  coast  „„  wld.  ,  .^n  „1  r    n  ?     '  '""''"""° 

j«.tei..g  f,.„.„  ti,o  .,oscrip.i„„,  ,v„„ :  0  w; :' °;:t''vr,'''''""''' 

»f  A,„or,o,,  p,.„bably  below  Now  K„„h,„i  °  ~'"' 
•       ^     "• '"'^''I'^^ity,  cummoiily 


28 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OV  IIISTOEY. 


I 


called  the  "Written  Rook,"  and  recording,  it  seems  more  than  prob- 
able, the  visits  of  the  ancient  Northmen  to  this  region.  The  greater 
portion  consists  of  Indian  hieroglyphics,  but  there  is  one  genuine 
Icelandic  fragment,  representing,  with  little  question,  "one  hundred 
and  fifty-one  men,"  the  exact  number,  it  may  be  remembered,  with 
which  Thorfinn,  after  the  sailing  of  Thorhall  and  his  eight  compan- 
ions, came  to  this  spot.  Other  portions,  among  which  sanguine  anti- 
quarians have  imagined  that  they  discovered  the  name  of  Thorfinn 
himself,  remain  undeciphered. 

It  has  been  thought  probable  by  sagacious  archaeologists  that  other 
colonies  of  European  origin,  from  choice  or  accident,  may  have  been 
founded  in  the  New  World,  anterior  to  its  discovery  by  Columbus. 
Mr.  Catlin,  the  eminent  Indian  painter  and  historian,  has,  in  an 
ingenious  essay,  made  it  evident,  thai,  the  famous  Mandan  tribe, 
lately  extinguished  by  the  ravages  of  small-pox,  may  have  been,  in 
part,  of  Welsh  origin,  and  perhaps  descended  from  the  adventurers, 
who  early  in  the  fourteenth  century  sailed  westward,  with  Madoc, 
prince  of  Wales,  and  never  regained  their  native  land.  The  com- 
plexion of  these  people,  though  somewhat  modified  by  intermixture 
with  aboriginal  blood,  was  light,  and  their  hair  and  features  resem- 
bled those  of  Europeans.  Their  language,  in  some  respects,  bore  an 
extraordinary  similitude  to  the  Welsh,  and  their  light  boats,  formed 
of  hides  stretched  upon  a  frame,  were  almost  identical  in  their  con- 
struction with  ihe  "coracles"  still  used  on  the  Severn  and  the  Wye. 
This  hypothesis,  supported  by  much  ingenious  argument  and  illus- 
tration, is  certainly  coherent,  and  may,  very  likely,  be  correct. 


PART    II. 


THE  SPAIIAEDS  II  AMEEICA. 

€kt  Umnnm  of  €nlmnbu5,  unJi  $mmtni  ni  tijf  l\M  Urn,' 

GHAPTEB   L 


COUNCIL  OP  8ALAMANCA.-ION0KANCE  AND 
BIGOTRY  OP  ITS  MEMBiJls. 

but  rospect,bl    p  L 2c    •]  r'  "■     ",  "'"  ^'""  "'"■  "f  <">-"- 
or  hiB  n4ve  ;.      ie  wo     '  o"*^::' ,  '.l'?:"'  ''^---.of  .he,„„.„ 

»-'<•,  .111.1  posse„e°l  of  •!  LT;  ,        r   ■'^™''  ""''■  "''■''"'':>'  "f  ">i<l.lle 
lii-elf  to  pZgll        *"  ""■"  "'  ■""""■"°  '"'■"'''"'K''.  he  betook 


I 


80 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  IIISTOKY. 


That  nation,  justly  entitled  to  the  glory  of  the  first  revival  of  dis- 
'  covcry  and  geography,  was  then  borne  on  in  the  full  tide  of  enter- 
prise and  success.  Under  the  auspices  of  the  adventurous  and 
enlightened  Prince  TIenry,  much  of  the  African  coast  had  been 
explored,  and  the  Azores  and  the  Cape  de  Verd  islands  had  been 
rescued  from  the  oblivion  of  the  ocean.  His  grand  and  arduous 
project,  the  circumnavigation  of  Africa,  and  a  maritime  intercourse 
with  the  shores  of  India,  deferred  by  his  death  (1573),  was  afterwards, 
with  brilliant  success,  completed  by  the  sovereign  who  succeeded  him. 

The  a2)pearance  of  Columbus,  at  this  time,  is  described  as  replete 
with  dignity  and  courtesy.  His  hair  was  already  quite  white,  and 
his  demeanour  was  distinguished  by  grave  and  gentle  authority.  lie 
was  a  devout  Catholic,  and  strictly  attached  to  all  the  offices  of  reli- 
gion. Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  married  the  daughter  of  one  Pales- 
trello,  a  navigator  distinguished  in  the  service  of  Prince  Henry,  and 
some  time  governor  of  Porto  Santo,  the  lesser  of  the  Madeiras.  The 
charts  and  journals  of  the  deceased  mariner,  delivered  into  his  pos- 
session, awakened  in  his  mind  a -strong  interest  in  African  discovery, 
lie  sailed  occasionally  to  that  coast,  and,  with  his  wife,  resided  fo^- 
some  time  at  Porto  Santo.  Ilis  means  were  narrow,  and  he  gained 
precarious  living,  for  the  most  part,  by  making  maps  and  charts,  an 
occupation  for  which,  by  his  education,  his  extended  exjjerience  and 
close  observation,  he  was  eminentl}'  qualilicd. 

In  this  obscure  and  humble  way  of  life,  his  mind  was  gradually 
and  slowly  elaborating  a  scheme  the  most  grand  and  momentous 
which  has  ever  been  conceived  by  human  genius,  or  carried  out  by 
human  courage  and  perseverance.  Ilis  occupation  naturally  incited 
his  thoughts  to  conjecture  and  speculation  concerning  the  vast  tracts 
of  ocean  in  which  no  snil  had  ever  been  spread,  and  uf  whose 
unknown  shores  no  chart  had  ever  been  et)nstructed.  Again  and 
again  had  mariners,  driven  westward  a  little  beyond  tlicir  accustomed 
course,  told  wondrous  stories  of  mountninons  islands,  dimlv  looniiu"- 
on  the  western  hori/.on,  but  still  retreating  before  the  bark  of  the 
e.\|)lnrer.  Such  accounts,  delusive  but  inspiriting,  lent  continual 
encouragement  to  the  thenry  wliieh  he  had  formed  and  tlie  vast 
desii;!!  which  he  was  projecting. 

Tliiiuuli  firmly  believing  in  the  sphericity  of  the  earth,  he  had 
singularly  umlcMTated  its  size* — an  error  shared  by  many  of  the 
leaiiuvl  of  his  day.     Toseanelli,  a  distinguished  Florentine  savant, 

*  "Till'  world,"  he  wiitrs,  "is  little — far  siiuilliT  tliiiii  is  comindiily  ,suiipose<l." 


-_ja 


THE  SPANIARDS   IN   AMEEICA.  g^ 

.     to  wliom,  ill  147-1,  ho  announced  his  intention  of  sailing  westward 
,      in  search  of  Cathay  (China),  gave  the  opinion  that  the  distance  could 
,      not  exceed  four  thousand  miles;  and  the  vast  extent  of  the  Orient 
I      '•'  ;}l''';^''^  ^'y  ^^^'^^^  ^^^^^^  appeared  to  conf.rna  this  hypothesis.     ' 
,  btill,  all  was  uncertainty.     The  mysterious  ocean  intervening 

,      between  the  Asian  and  European  shores  might  be  of  vast  and  innav'^ 
I      igable  extent,  and  filled  with  new  and  unheard  of  terrors      The  sail 
I      might  be  spread  for  those  unknown  regions,  but  who  could  tell  if  it 
I      should  ever  retrace  the  hazardous  way-if  fearful  seas  and  currents 
I      would  not  ingulph  the  audacious  keel,  or  some  fixed  and  awful  law 
I      of  nature  forbid  the  pos.sibility  of  return.     These  very  doubts  and 
I      rnarvels  served,  perhaps,  only  as  new  incentives  to  a  mind   alike 
I      danng    romantic,  and  practical.     It  is  certain  that  from  the  time 
when  the  project  of  sailing  westward  to  solve  the  grand  problem  of 
the  earth  first  entered  the  mind  of  this  obscure  wan^derer.'tie  e  1, 
menced  a  career  of  patience,  perseverance,  sagacity,  aid  courr 
sue     as  the  world,  it  is  probable,  had  ne;cr  ^vitnLd      Th o  t h 

irom  the  first,  to  have  had  a  premonition  of  the  vastness  and  r.n 
grandeur  of  his  future  discovery  "  ^""^ 

"When  Columbus,"  says  Mr.  Irving,  "had  formed  his  theory  itis 
singular  the  firmness  with  which  it  became  fixed  in  his  IT  nd 
te  effect  It  produced  upon  his  character  and  conduct.     H     ne"' 

::^u:;dt:r:mSi;:^^ 

afterwards  diverJ  him  f^-om  thesteS^X:;:^^  r!!; -r^V:;^:   ' 
rcI,g,ou.s  sentiment  mingled  with  his  meditations,  and  .avt  tltm  ^t 
unes  a  tmge  of  superstition,  but  it  was  of  a  sub  ime  .n    lof  1  1     A 
lie  looked  upon  him.self  as  standing  in  the  hand        I     Ve  f'wen 
from  among  men  for  the  accomplishment  of  its  hi-di  Tr  o.o      Tt' 

^^;:;,ids:r^'f::rri?!^^^ 

prophets.     The  ends  of  the  ear  mv  1    '     .  T     """^  "'  ^''^ 

ail  nations  and  tongues  and  C^  I'd  ^df '  V^T''^^'  ^1 
the  Kedeemer."  °  """•"'   ^'"^  ^'•"'"er  of 

But  between  the  conception  and  the  fulfilment  nf  .1  •       ,     •  i 

V>M„„,  to  commnn,!  il,„  „,ean,  llff,,  .'"  '"'"'»='"■» 


82 


TlIK   rKOri.K'S    HOOK   OK   IIISTOUY. 


1477,  lio  voy(V}j[('tl  an  hundrod  loagiios  bcyoiid  rccliind,  piohnbly  to 
tlio  wcstwiinl,  mill,  if,  insiy  be,  wiuitcd  but  a  littU;  of  reviving  tlui 
nncii'iit  (lisoovorii's  ol' tlio  Norllinioii,  and  tracking  llio  Hteps  oC'I'lior- 
flnn  to  tlio  long-IoNt  .sliorcn  of  V inland. 

With  tlio  accosaion  of  John  IL,  in  1481,  to  tho  tlironoof  Portugal, 
a  now  and  brilliant  era  of  ontorpriso  coninionocd.  'i'hat  oidigiitcin^d 
and  ambitious  .sovonngn  had  inhciriti'd  from  his  prodocossor,  I'rinwj 
llonry,  tho  noblo  passion  for  discovory  and  maritimo  advonturo. 
Tho  schemo  for  circmnnavigating  Africa  was  resumed — a  schomo, 
in  duo  tiino  crownod  with  tho  most  brilliant  and  profitablo  sucirss; 
and  tho  invontion  of  tho  astrolabo  or  (luadraiit  -an  invention  under- 
taken directly  in  furtherance  of  naval  adviuituro — rewarded  the  inge- 
nuity of  tho  men  of  Hoionce  who  surrounded  him. 

At  this  favourable  eiH)eh,  Columbus,  his  i)roject  fully  matured, 
presented  himself  before  the  sovereign,  olVering  his  services  in  explor- 
ing the  quickest  route  to  the  long-coveted  shores  of  India,  lie  pro- 
])oscd  to  sail  due  westward,  and  expressed  his  confidence  that  a 
voyage  of  a  thousand  leagues  would  bring  him  to  the  island  of 
Ci[)ango  or  .Japan,  famed  from  the  glowing  descriptions  of  Marco 
Polo.  The  compensation  which  he  demanded,  in  event  of  success, 
was  of  a  princely  and  magnincent  nature — tho  same,  it  is  i)rol)able, 
which  he  afterwards  obtained  from  the  sovereigns  of  Spain,  and  of 
which  iHMiury,  disappointment,  and  the  weariness  of  hojie  long 
deferred  never  could  I'oree  him  to  abate  one  jot  or  tittle. 

John,  whose  ear  was  ever  ojum  to  the  voice  of  enterprise,  referred 
the  project  to  his  learned  men,  by  whom  it  was  Hummarily  con- 
demned as  chimerical.  The  king,  unsatisfied,  and  stimidated  by  tho 
advice  of  his  unprincipled  confessor,  now  had  the  meanness  and  per- 
fidy to  attempt  defrauding  tho  projector  of  tho  glory  and  reward 
of  his  magnilieent  invention.  Having  gained  possession  of  the  plans 
and  chart,s  of  Columbus,  he  jirivately  dispatched  a  vessel  in  the  pro- 
posed direction.  But  t.lu)sc  so  hastily  called  on  to  uiuh'i'take  tho 
tremendous  adventure,  were  not  upheld  by  tho  jiationt  enthusiasm 
of  its  original  autlK)r.  The  crew,  meeting  with  stormy  weather, 
became  discouraged,  and  rmally,  in  despair,  put  back  into  Lisbon. 
Indignant  at  tiiis  mean  afteiupt  to  forestall  his  honours,  the  ag- 
grievtnl  jirojector,  refusing  to  hearken  to  further  overtures,  quitted 
the  court  abruptly,  taking  with  him  his  little  son  Diego  (1484). 
Nothing,  for  some  time,  is  known  of  his  moveinonts,  but  his  reap- 
pearance was  in  distress  and  poverty 


I  0  L  V  M  U  U  ^     U  K  FU  It  E     T  II  H     CU  UJVCI  L     O  F    S  .<  L   1  M  jI  .V  C  4  . 


\ 

\ 


r  .V  c  A . 


THE   SI'ANIAKUS   IN   AMERICA.  oo 

Near  the  little  sea-port  of  Palos,  iu  Andalusia,  stood  and  still  stands 
n.i  ancient  eonvent,  named  Santa  Maria  do  Kabida.     Ono  dav  a 
weaned  foot-traveller,  leading  a  l.oj,  stopped  at  the  gate,  and  re- 
quested of  the  porter  a  little  bread  and  water  for  his  child      The 
prior,  Juan  Pere.,  a  man  of  attainments  and  of  quick  discernment 
passing  by  chance,  was  struck  with  his  demeanour,  and  still  more 
with  h,s  conversation.     On  hearing  the  grand  project  of  Columbus 
(for  the  wayfarer  was  no  other)  he  was  iilled  witli  admiration.     The 
wanderer  was  honourably  entertained  at  the  convent,  and  in  the 
^pnng  o    I486,  fortified  with  a  letter  to  Talavera,  the  queen'    con^ 
fessor,  set  forth  to  try  his  fortunes  at  the  Spanish  ^ourt 
In  that  court  the  most  brilliant,  perhaps,  in  Europe,  the  cold  and 

i  bcral  spirit  of  his  consort,  the  high-minded   Isabella  of  Castile- 
and  It  was  on  her  well-known  love  of  science   literature   .ml  ' 

pnse,  that  the  adventurer  founded  his  Jefl^^^:^  "^ 
discouragement  attended  his  first  attempts.  The  con  e  so r  looked 
--th  no  favour  on  his  scheme.  It  was  long  before  he  Zd  obtl  a 
an  audience  before  the  sovereigns,  their  whole  attention    trowed 

-en^nceandenthnsiasmfg.dX:^;r 

obhS:ndT°'  ""^""  ''  '"■"'  ""  ^^'^^^-^  -'^'--  --  finally 
sit  rl:     o    :  n3'  --^  ^y  '-  f  t--.ts,  resolved  t^ 

nianea.  At^  Z  r  n^^^  ^t'Tf 'ridi'r  "  """""'V'  ^^'^■ 
n^ost  learned  and  eminent  sclolrs  in  1  "",  '''''  ''''"^^''^  '^'' 

church  dignitaries  before  wl  om  Z  "°''"'"'  '""'"^  ^'''''  ^^'^ 

unfold  his^rojectednrrtTldr  ^'^f .^"^^'-^  ^^  ^^--andod  to 
speech,  he^stid  the  p::^^;:^  o^  ^^ll^^rS'to  V  ^'T^" 
disappointment  was  encountered  on  all  ..nlrAl  .       '"''"'' 

l.ero,i«l  conception     The     1  '  -'T      "  '°,    '"  '""'«-^»"y, 

bo  otherwise  than  flat  inste-Ti  „f  T  '"■?"'  ^'^  '^""''  '=<»■''•  "<>' 

Voi,.  Ill  _3  ^  "'  '°"°'''  "^•"S  '1«"  in  both  tbe  Old 

— ^ _J 


84 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORT. 


and  New  Testaments,  tlie  lieaveiis  were  compared  to  a  tent  extended 
over  its  surface.  Others,  admitting  the  possibility  of  its  sphericity, 
maintained  that  it  was  encircled  by  the  torrid  zone,  an  impassable 
barrier  of  heat,  ))recluding  all  cninmnnieation  between  the  antipodes. 
Ejiicnrus  ha<l  aflirmed  that  the  sonthern  liemisphere  was  a  mere 
chaos,  and  Lactantius  Kirmianns  had  denied  that  there  were  antipodes 
at  all.  If  there  were,  and  if  a  ship  could  really  slide  in  safety  over 
the  enormons  ronnd,  how  was  she  ever  to  get  up  hill  again?  Iii 
short,  the  majority  of  his  learned  auditors  "entrenched  themselves 
behind  one  dogged  position ;  that  after  so  many  profound  philoso- 
phers and  cosmograpliers  had  been  studying  the  form  of  the  world, 
and  so  many  able  navigators  had  been  sailing  about  it  for  several 
thousand  years,  it  was  great  presumption  in  an  ordinary  man  to  sup- 
jiose  tliat  there  remained  such  a  vast  discovery  for  him  to  make."  So 
great,  in  fine,  were  the  prejudice,  bigotry,  and  ignorance  of  a  major- 
ity of  the  council,  that,  though  a  (ew  of  the  more  intelligent  were 
convinced  by  his  arguments  or  jiersuaded  by  his  eloquence,  the  great 
body  of  the  assembly,  after  several  fruitless  conferences,  utterly 
refused  to  risk  their  reputation  by  any  countenance  to  such  an 
unheard-of  innovation. 


kJ   JuJj    buoj    ill      J/    Ju    iLX       XX* 

DELAY  AND  DISAPPOINTMENT  EXPERIENCED  DY  COLUMBUS.  —  HIS 
PINAL  SUCCESS  AND  TUEATY  WITH  THE  COURT  OP  SPAIN.  —  01)- 
STACLES  TO  THE  PROJECT. — THE  PINZONS. —  SAILING  OP  THE 
EXPEDITION.  —  PARTICULARS  OP  THE  VOYAfiE.  —  PERSE- 
VERANCE OF  COLUMBUS. DISCOVEliYOFGUANAHANI. — 

THE  NATIVES. — ERRONEOUS  EXPECTATIONS  OP  COLUMBUS. 

Yeat?s  passed  b}',  and  Columbus,  the  victim  of  hope  deterred, 
still  protracted  his  attendance  at  the  Spanish  court,  gleaning  a  pre- 
carious support  from  his  industry,  and  occasionally  assisted  by  the 
liberality  of  his  patrons.  He  fought  against  the  floors  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1-189,  and,  it  is  said,  with  distingnislicd  courage;  but  was 
repeatedly  disappointed  in  his  hopes  of  obtaining  a  fresh  interview 
with  the  sovereigns.     Rejecting,  from  a  stern  remembrance  of  past 


t  oxteixlod 
Hphericity, 
iinpaaaablo 
luitipodca. 
ras  n  mcro 
i.^  antipodes 
Hafoty  over 
igain?  Ill 
tlicinselvcs 
ul  pliiloHO- 
the  world, 
for  several 
lan  to  sup- 
iKike."  So 
)f  a  major- 
igcnt  were 
\  the  great 
es,  utterly 
0  such  au 


JUS.  —  ins 

I>f.  —  OD- 
OP  TlIK 
EltSE- 

;i, — 

[BUS. 

!  deterred, 
ling  a  pre- 
tod  by  the 
1  the  eani- 
!;  but  was 
interview 
oe  of  past 


THE  Sl'ANIAKDS   IN   A.MERICA. 


85 


treachery,  the  renewed  overtures  of  John  If.,  he  despatched  his 
l^n.ther  Jkrtholoinow  to  Enghind,  to  seek  the  nid  of  Henry  VII 
in  pro.secution  of  his  enterpri.se.  IIo  also  made  ap[)lication  to  tho 
powerful  dukes  of  Me<lina  Sidonia  and  Medina  Cu'Ii ;  but,  after  receiv- 
ing some  cneouragernent,  was  again  thwarted  in  his  wishes,  and  sick 
at  heart,  took  his  way  back  to  tho  convent  of  Habida. 

The  worthy  prior,  grieved  and  scandalized  at  his  ill-success,  again 
bestirred  himself.     Mounting  his  mule,  he  beto(,k  him.self  to  court 
and  by  his  eUxiuenee  so  wrougiit  upon  the  queen  (whoso  confessor 
he  had  formerly  been)  that  she  at  once  recalled  Columbus  to  her 
presence.     The  sovereigns,  with  their  army,  were  then  encamped 
.cl<;ro  Granada,  the  last  stronghold  of  the  unfi.rtunate  Moors;  and 
1.0  arrived  in  time  to  witness  its  memorable  surrender.     This  lon-r 
and  exhausting  contest  finally  decided,   they  found  more  leisure 
to  listen  to  schemes  of  enterprise,  and  accordingly  appointed  a-ents 
(-nong  them  Talavera,  archbishop  of  Granada)  to  confer  with  tie 
Ijensevenng  projector.     At  first  all  negotiation  seemed  fruitless,  for 
the.se  high  dignitaries,  offended  at  the  conditions  attached  to  his  pro- 
posal  utterly  refused  acce.ling  to  terms  which  they  considered  pre- 
umptuous  and  arrogant  in  the  extreme.     Argun^nt  was  in  vain, 
le  would  yield  absolutely  nothing.     Seven  years  had  been  wasted 
at    he  Spamsh  court,  and  he  was  now  far  advanced  in  life;  y  Ij' 
uidefatigable   man,  on  learning   their  adverse   decision,   forthwit 
mounted  his  beast,  and  set  off,  to  carry  his  scheme  and  Lis  serv 
to  the  court  of  France. 

At  this  unfortunate  issue,  the  fov^  friends  of  science  and  enterprise 
were  overwhelmed  with  mortification.  They  hastened  to  the  Z 
a  1  besought  her  that  no  unnecessary  scruples  should  transfer  to 
other  hands  a  project  so  momentous  to  the  interests  of  Sn.n.i 
the  extension  of  Christianity.  Moved  by  their  I  e  ,  V^  v 
resolved  m  favour  of  the  scheme,  and  with  a  gene/ous  nd  ouee  W 
cnthusnism  resolved  that,  if  needful,  the  ver;jewels  of  h  'o-o  ' 
should  be  pledged  to  procure  means  for  the  expedition.    An  expr  s 

-hin..if  again  to  ti.e^r::;r;:rrr;is'r::^ 

of  Ins  mule,  and  journeyed  back  to  Granada. 

1  he  interest  and  ambition  of  the  sovereigns  were  now  fully  excited 
and  the  terms  demanded  by  the  adventurer  were  at  once  aLXl  to 
Ihese  were,  indeed,  of  a  princely  and  magnificent  nature,  and   h  d 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HI8T0EY. 

good  faith  been  observed  by  the  crown,  would  have  resulted  in  the 
foundation  of  family  honours  and  authorities  greater  than  any  sub- 
ject ever  received  at  the  hands  of  a  sovereign.  He  and  his  heirs  for 
ever  were  to  enjoy  the  .title  of  "High  Admiral  of  the  Ocean  Sea" 
in  all  the  lands  and  seas  Avhich  he  should  discover,  with  the  office 
of  viceroy  and  governor-general,  invested  with  almost  absolute 
authority;  and  for  the  due  support  of  these  high  dignities,  were 
to  receive  an  eighth  of  all  profits  accruing  from  the  anticipated  dis- 
coveries (April,  1492).  To  the  honour  of  Columbus,  it  must  be  said, 
that  with  him  these  splendid  offices  and  prospective  emoluments 
were  not,  in  themselves,  the  ultimate  reward  of  his  exertions;  but 
only  the  means  by  which  grander  and  more  worthy  schemes  (to  his 
view)  were  to  be  accomplished.  The  Grand  Khan,  with  the  immense 
regions  under  his  sway,  was  to  be  converted  to  Christianity — perhaps 
brought  under  allegiance  to  their  Most  Catholic  Majesties.  The  Holy 
Sepulchre,  by  the  aid  of  the  expected  treasure,  was  to  be  rescued 
from  the  infidels,  and  the  Faith  was  to  triumph  throughout  the 
remotest  regions  of  the  earth. 

The  little  sea-port  of  Palos,  in  consequence  of  some  ofTence  to  the 
crown,  had  been  condemned  by  the  council  to  furnish,  when  re- 
quired, two  caravels,  or  small  undecked  vessels,  for  the  public  ser- 
vice. These  little  craft,  with  their  crews,  were  now,  by  a  royal 
order,  placed  at  the  disposition  of  Columbus.  The  mariners  of  that 
port  were  among  the  boldest  and  most  skilful  of  any  who  ventured 
into  the  dreaded  waters  of  the  Atlantic,  or  coasted  along  the  newly- 
explored  shores  of  Africa;  but  when  the  nature  of  the  proposed 
expedition  was  made  known,  a  general  thrill  of  horror  ran  through 
the  whole  community.  To  sail  into  an  unknown,  untraversed  sea, 
with  no  certain  land  to  steer  to,  seemed,  even  to  the  boldest,  the 
enterprise  of  madness  and  a  mere  tempting  of  Providence,  Every 
frightful  contingency  which  ignorance  and  superstition  could  sug- 
gest, or  ancient  rumor  confirm,  was  eagerly  adduced  against  the  auda- 
cious project.  Neither  vessels  nor  mariners,  despite  the  peremptory 
orders  of  a  despotic  court,  could  be  procured,  and  the  enterprise 
seemed  at  a  stand,  Avhen  the  wealth  and  influence  of  a  single  family 
came  successfully  to  its  aid. 

Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  one  of  the  ablest  navigators  of  the  place, 
and  his  brother  Vicente,  persuaded  by  the  arguments  of  Columbus, 
now  came  forward,  and  threw  all  their  weight  in  favour  of  the  under- 
taking.    They  furnished  at  least  one  vessel  from  their  private  means, 


ilted  in  the 
,n  any  sub- 
is  heirs  for 
•cean  Sea" 
.  the  office 
it  absolute 
ities,  were 
ipated  dis- 
ist  be  said, 
mohiments 
rtions;  but 
tnes  (to  his 
e  immense 
T — perhaps 
The  Holy 
be  rescued 
ighout  the 

3iice  to  the 
,  when  re- 
public ser- 
3y  a  royal 
ers  of  that 
3  ventured 
the  iiewly- 
!  proposed 
m  through 
.•ersed  sea; 
oldest,  the 
!e.  Every 
could  sug- 
t  the  auda- 
ereniptory 
enterprise 
igle  family 

the  place, 
Columbus, 
the  un der- 
ate means, 


THE  SPANIARDS  IN  AMERICA. 


87 


and  by  their  influence  and  authority  the  work  went  rapidly  forward. 
Every  encouragement  to  those  engaged  in  the  project,  even  to  an 
exemption  from  the  consequences  of  crime,  was  afforded  by  the  court, 
and  by  the  beginning  of  August,  1492,  three  small  vessels  were 
ready  for  sea.  Aboard  the  Santa  Maria,  th'e  largest  of  these  and  the 
only  one  completely  decked,  Columbus  hoisted  his  flag;  another,  the 
Pinta,  which  had  been  pressed  into  the  service,  was  commanded  by 
Alonzo  Pinzon;  and  the  third,  a  little  caravel  called  the  Nina,  by 
his  brother  Vicente.  The  crews  amounted  to  an  hundred  and 
twenty  souls. 

Letters  were  prepared  by  the  sovereigns  for  delivery  to  the  Grand 
Khan,  on  whose  territories  it  was  supposed  the  expedition  would 
first  light,  and  whose  conversion,  (an  object  of  pious,  but  unrequited 
zeal   to  many  devout  sovereigns,)  it  was  now  confidently  expected 
would  be  :numphantly  brought  about.     Columbus,  with  all  his  peo- 
ple, performed  the  solemn  rites  of  confession  and  communion,  amid 
the  lamentations  of  the  whole  community,  most  of  whom  had  rela- 
tions aboard,  and  regarded  them  as  sailing,  on  a  cruise  of  insanity 
to  assured  destruction.     On  Friday,  the  3d  of  August,  1492,  at  ei^hj. 
o  clock  in  the  morning,  this  little  squadron  set  sail,  on  an  enterprise 
the  most  venturesome  and  momentous  ever  undertaken  by  man 

By  the  9th  of  August,  Columbus  arrived  at  the  Canary  islands 
where  he  remained  three  weeks  to  repair  and  to  take  in  supplier' 
and  whence,  on  the  6th  of  Septemjber,  amid  the  tears  and  lamenta- 
tions of  his  crews,  he  again  set  forth  in  quest  of  an  undiscovered 
world.     He  steered  due  westward,  charging  the  other  commanders 
to  keep  m  company  with  him,  and,  after  sailing  seven  hundred 
oagnes,  to  lay  to  at  night,  lest  they  should  strike  on  the  coast  of 
India  or  Japan.     Besides  his  accurate  rec-koning,  he  kept  for  inspec- 
tion of   he  crew  a  fictitious  record,  in  which  a  considerable  distance 
was  daily  subtracted  from  the  actual  progress,  lost  they  shouWbe 
come  disheartened  at  seeing  the  entire  tract  of  ocean  which    nt    . 
vened  between  them  and  their  homes 

After  sailing  two  hundred  leagues,  a  vnriation  of  the  needle  was 
observed,  and  excited  much  alarm  among  his  people;  but  a  lus  b  e 
explanation  allayed  their  fears.     They  were  soon  in  the  trade-wh  d 
and  for  many  days  sped  westward  with  a  smooth  and  steady  mo^on 
which,  almost  imperceptibly,  bore  them  hundreds  of  leagues  recUv 
on  their  course.     Te  weather  was  delightfully  mild  an3  refresl  h  g 
Day  after  day  passed  by,  and  no  land  met  thc^aze    ' 


of  tl 


;ic  eager  and 


88 


THE  I'EOl'LK'B   HOOK   OV  HISTORY. 


anxious  mariners.  Tlicy  begiin  to  I'eur  tliut,  in  tlioso  unknown 
regions  of  llic  ocean,  the  wind  might  alway.s  blow  from  tlio  eastward, 
and  forbid  the  {)ossibility  of  return.  (Jreat  alarm  was  also -excited 
by  tlio  apj)earanee  of  vast  meadows  of  iloating  sea-weed,  tlirougli 
whoso  thick  and  tangled  masses  the  ships  with  dilliculty  forced  their 
way.  ln"volvod  in  theso  treacherous  nets  of  the  sea,  or  stranded  on 
submerged  rocks  beneath,  far  from  any  firm  land,  they  would  never, 
they  ci'ied,  be  able  to  regain  their  liomes. 

'J^ho  ])osition  of  Columbus  was  now  critical  and  i:>erilou8  in  the 
extreme.  His  ignoi-ant  followers,  regarding  him  as  a  nuvniac,  or  as 
one  whom  and)ition  had  made  careless  of  life,  were  repeatedly  on 
the  verge  of  nmtiny.  A  plan,  it  is  said,  was  R)ntied  f(.)r  throwing 
him  into  the  sea,  and  alleging,  on  their  return,  that  he  had  fallen 
overboard  by  chance  while  surveying  the  heavens  and  the  altitudes 
of  the  stars.  Nothing  saved  him  but  the  calm  and  resolute  authority 
which  ho  maintained,  cheering  the  timid  by  i)orsuasive  arguments, 
inciting  the  sanguine  with  promises,  and  awing  the  refractory  with 
open  threats.  By  the  first  of  October  ho  had  sailed  seven  hunch'cd 
leagues  west  of  the  Canaries,  though  his  ciew  supposed  the  distance 
to  be  considerably  less. 

Ou  the  7th  ho  altereil  his  course,  and  steered  for  three  dayssouth- 
Avest.  No  land  appeared,  and  the  crews,  in  a  nuitinous  manner, 
clamored  for  return.  It  has  been  told,  and  oilen  repeated,  that,  to 
appease  their  impatience,  he  promised,  if  no  land  appeared  in  three 
days,  to  turn  his  })rows  to  the  eastward;  but  this  story  ajipears  to 
have  been  reported  without  sufllcient  ground.  On  the  contrary, 
fmding  his  j)crsuasions  inellectual,  he  told  them  sternly  that  he  had 
been  sent  to  seek  the  Indies,  and,  till  they  were  found,  nothing  should 
induce  lum  to  retrace  his  course.  Overawed  by  his  firmness  inid 
dignity,  they  yielded  a  sullen  submission.  On  the  evening  of  the 
11th,  the  course  wiis  again  altered  to  the  westward. 

Occasional  specimens  of  fresh  vegetation,  and  a  stalT  artificially 
carved,  had  been  lately  picked  up,  and  added  greatly  to  the  encour- 
agement of  their  hopes.  Every  eye  was  now  strained  with  eager 
expectation,. and  Columbus  passed  the  night  on  the  high  cabin  of 
his  vessel,  anxious  to  be  the  personal  discoverer  of  the  expected  land. 
About  ten  o'clock,  he  saw  a  faintly  gleaming  and  occasionally  hidden 
light  in  the  west,  which  he  regarded  as  the  certain  indication  of  an 
inhabited  land.  At  two  in  the  following  morning  (October  12th,) 
the  I'inta,  which  was  ahead  of  tlie.  rest,  ilrod  a  run,  th.'."  sjtrnal  of 


THE  SPANIAKDS   IN  AMERICA. 


89 


discovery,  and  all  lay  to,  uwuitiiig  with  intcrue  expectation  the 
approach  of  morning. 

Aa  the  day  slowly  dawned,  a  green  and  beautiful  island  was  .seen 
stretching  before  tlicni.  Numbers  of  people,  quite  naked,  were  run- 
ning on  the  beach,  fdled  witli  auiazcnient  at  the  strange  ^pectaclo 
which  the  night  had  conjured  up  on  their  shores.  The  admiral,  in 
full  dress,  bearing  the  royal  standard,  and  gallantly  attended,  entered 
his  boat,  and  rowed  to  shore.  Kissing  the  earth,  with  tears  of  joy, 
he  returned  thanks  to  God.  His  people  followed  the  example,  arid 
all,  overwhelmed  with  joy,  thronged  around  him,  with  embraces, 
kissing  his  hands,  and,  in  the  intoxication  of  the  moment,  almost 
adoring  him.  He  proceeded  to  take  a  solemn  and  ceremonious  pos- 
session of  the  island,  in  the  name  of  the  Spanish  sovereigns,  calling 
it  San  Salvador.  Its  native  name  was  Guanahani,  and  it  is  one  of 
that  long  chain  of  Bahamas  extending  from  Florida  to  IFayti. 

The  natives,  who  at  first,  terrified  by  the  armour  and  gorgeous 
array  of  the  strangers,  had  ficd  into  the  woods,  now  ventured  Ibrtli, 
and  ai)proaclied  the  Spaniards,  with  many  prostrations  and  signs  of 
adoration.  They  suj)posed  that  these  wonderful  beings  had  floated 
from  some  celestial  region,  and  gazed,  with  eager  curiosity,  on  their 
beards,  their  raiment,  and  the  whiteness  of  their  complexions.  The 
islanders  themselves  were  of  a  cojjpcr  hue,  nearly  naked,  and  orna- 
mented with  fantastic  paintings.  Su])posing  himself  near  the  eastern 
shore  of  Asia,  Columbus  gave  these  people  the  name  of  Indians— a 
term  since  applied  to  all  the  native  races  of  the  western  hemisphere. 
Their  disposition  was  singularly  amiable  and  affectionate. 

The  admiral  gave  them  little  i)resents,  such  as  coloured  beads  and 
hawk's-bclls,  the  tinkling  sound  of  which  tickled  their  ears  surpris- 
ingly, and  which  they  received  with  rapture  as  gifts  from  the  celes- 
tial land.  They  cried  to  each  other,  he  says,  "with  loud  voices, 
'  Come  and  see  the  vien  who  have  come  from  heavm.  Brinrj  them  victuals 
and  drink.''  There  came  many  of  both  sexes,  every  one  bringing 
something,  giving  thanks  to  God,  prostrating  themselves  on  the  earth 
and  lifting  up  their  hands  to  heaven."  Great  numbers  came  ofi'  in 
their  canoes  to  the  vessels,  bringing  tame  parrots  and  balls  of  cotton 
yarn  as  offerings  to  the  wonderful  visitors. 

Strong  interest  was  excited  among  the  Spaniards  by  the  sight  of 
small  ornaments  of  gold,  which  the  natives  wore  in  their  noses,  and 
which  they  averred,  by  signs,  was  jirocured  from  the  south-west. 
Columbus  understood  them  as  describing,  iu  this  vague  species  of 


40 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


communication,  a  great  prince,  who  was  served  on  vessels  of  that 
precious  substance;  and  his  ardent  imagination  at  once  inferred  that 
he  must  be  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cipango,  and  of  its  gorgeous 
potentate,  described  by  Marco  Polo. 


CHAPTEE   IIL 


DISCOVERY  OP  OTHER   BAHAMA  ISLANDS.  — CONTINUED  EXPECTA- 
TIONS OF  FINDING  ASIA.  — DISCOVERY  OP  C  U  D  A.  — DISCO  V- 
ERY  OP   HAYTI,  OR   H  ISP  A  N  10  I,  A  .  — 'C  H  ARACTER    OP    THE 
INHABITANTS.  —  THE  CACIQUE   OUACANAOARI. — THE 
SANTA    MARIA    WRECKED.  —  I,  A    NAVIDAD    FORTI- 
FIED.—  COI.UMliUS  SAILS  FOR  SPAIN.  —  FURTHER 
ADVENTURES     WITH     THE     NATIVES. 


4 


On  the  evening  of  the  14th  of  October,  tlie  admiral  got  under 
way,  and   left  San  Salvador,  steering  amid   green  and  beautiful 
islands,  which  appeared  innumerable.     He  at  once  concluffed  that  he 
was  in  that  great  archipelago,  reported  by  his  favourite  author  as 
consisting  of  seven  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-eight  spice-bearing 
islands,  and  lying  off  the  eastern  coast  of  Asia.    On  the  1 6th  he  landed 
on,  and  took  possession  of  another  island,  which  he  devoutly  named 
"Santa  ^laria  do  la  Concepcion,"  and  where  lie  found  the  natives 
friendly  and  confiding  as  before.     At  the  island  of  Exuma,  where 
he  next  went  on  shore,  the  inhabitants,  as  usual,  thronged  'around 
him  with  their  little  offerings.     The  disposition  of  all  these  islanders 
appears  to  have  been  eminently  simple,  amiable  and  unsuspicious. 
"I  am  of  opinion,"  says  Columbus,  in  his  journ.al,  "that  they  would 
very  readily  become  Christians,  as  they  appear  to  have  no  religion." 
In  Exumeta,  where,  in  search  of  his  Japanese  potentate,  the  admi- 
ral next  touched,  his  soul,  ever  keenly  sensitive  to  the  beauties  of 
nature,  was  filled  with  rapture  at  the  loveliness  of  the  scenery  and 
the  climate.     In  his  communication  to  the  sovereigns,  he  says,  "It 
seems  as  if  one  would  never  desire  to  depart  from  hence.     I  know 
not  where  first  to  go,  nor  are  my  eyes  ever  weary  of  gazin<-  on  the 
beautiful  verdure.         *        *        *         Here  are  large  ]akes,''and  the 
groves  about  them  are  marvellous,  and  here  and  in  all  the  isljind 


THE   SPANIABD8  IN  AMERICA. 


41 


every  thing  is  green,  find  the  herbage  as  in  April  in  Andalusia.  The 
singing  of  the  birds  is  such,  that  it  seems  as  if  ono  would  never 
desire  to  depart  hence.  There  are  flocks  of  parrots  which  obscure 
the  sun,  and  other  birds,  large  and  small,  of  so  many  kinds  and  so 
different  from  ours,  that  it  is  wonderful;  and  besides,  there  are  trees 
of  a  thousand  species,  each  having  its  particular  fruit,  and  all  of 
marvellous  flavor,  so  that  I  am  in  the  greatest  trouble  in  the  world 
not  to  know  them,  for  T  am  very  certain  that  they  are  each  of  great 
value.  *  *  *  As  I  arrived  at  this  Cape,  there  came 
off  a  fragrance  so  good  and  soft  of  the  flowers  or  trees  of  the  landy 
that  it  was  the  sweetest  thing  in  the  world." 

The  Indians  here  told  him,  that  in  a  great  island  named  Cub->  to 
the  southward,  much  gold  abounded,  and  he  understood  them'  as 
describing  large  ships  which  came  there  to  trade  for  spices  and  the 
precious  metals.  His  sanguine  imagination  at  onco  sprang  to  the 
exultant  conclusion,  that  this  was  the  desired  Cipango-  Siat  the 
.shi{)s  in  question  were  those  of  the  Grand  Klian;  and°that  the  ex- 
pected fruit  of  his  expedition  lay  ripe  before  him.  Forthwith  he  got 
underway  (October  24th),  resolved  first  to  visit  the  island,  and  then 
to  cross  to  the  mainland,  and  deliver  his  letters  to  the  Khan 

Three  days  he  sailed  south-west,  and  on  the  fourth,  beheld  the 
high  and  mountamous  shores  of  Cuba  stretching  before  him     The 
squadron  anchored  in  ii  beautiful  river,  and  the  commander  in  his 
boat  explored  the  country,  delighted  with  its  beauty.      The  most 
graceful  of  palms,  differing  from  those  of  the  Old  World    every 
where  met  the  eye;  and  he  fancied  that  amid  the  varied  perfumes  of 
tropical  vegetation,  he  could  distinguish  the  flavour  of  oriental  spices 
Coasting  westward,  the  voyagers  fell  in  with  several  villages  in 
which  were  found  implements  evincing  considerable  art  and^iivre- 
nuity.     By  another  strange  mistake,  the  result  of  imperfect  com- 
munication with  the  natives,  Columbus  now  concluded  that  he  was 
on  the  mainland  of  India,  and,  by  his  interpreters,  endeavoured  to 
reassure  the  alarmed  villagers,  and  to  convince  them  that  he  had  no 
connection  with  the  Khan,  whom  he  supposed  the  object  of  their 
especial  terror.    Encouraged  by  the  friendly  message,  though  part  of 
It  only  was  mtelligible,  they  ventured,  in  great  numbers,  to  the  .ship. 
Ihe  admiral,  supposing  that  the  capital  of  Tartary,  the  seat  of  tlie 
Great  Khan,  could  lie  at  no  great  distance  in  the  interior,  dispatched 
messengers  in  quest  of  it~among  them  a  converted  Jew,  whom  he 
had  taken  out  expressly  to  further  conmmnicution  with  that  poten- 


42 


THE  PEOl'LE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTOKY. 


tatc,  ami  wlio  was  equipped  with  a  knowledge  of  Hebrew,  Chaldaic, 
and  Arabic.    Penetrating  the  country  for  some  distance,  this  embassy 
caiuo  upon  a  village  of  a  thousand  inhabitants,  from  Avhoni  they 
received  great  reverence  and  hospitality,  but  on  whom  the  oriental 
learning  of  the  interpreter  wiis  quite  thrown  away.     These  people 
smoked  a  fragrant  herb,  prepared  in  rolls,  which  they  called  Taba- 
cos— a  name  since  universally  applied  to  the  plant  itself.     Much  cot- 
ton was  cultivated  by  them,  and  manufactured  into  the  simple  articles 
which  a  tropical  climate  requires. 
In  the  south-east,  Columbus  was  now  informed,  was  a  land  called 
"  l^abccjuc,  rich  in  gold,  which  the  people  there  hammered  into  bars. 
From  this,  and  from  the  name  Quisqueya,  which  they  occasionally 
used,  he  concluded  at  once  that  the  latter  could  be  no  other  than 
Quisai,  the  celestial  city  of  the  Khan,  described,  with  such  lavish 
ornament,  by  the  enthusiastic  Polo.     Accordingly,  turning  from  a 
couise  which  would  soon  have  taken  him  to  the  mainland  of  Amer- 
ica, Columbus,  on  the  12th  of  October,  retraced  his  way,  sailing  in 
quest  of  the  ever-fleeting  Land  of  Promise.     During  this  voyage, 
rendered  tedious  by  balUing  winds,  Martin  Alonzo  Pinzon,  whose 
vessel,  the  Pinta,  was  the  fleetest  of  the  squadron,  deserted  him,  and 
was  st)on  lost  to  sight.     The  admiral  slowly  worked  his  way  east- 
ward ah)ng  the  shore,  making  fresh  surveys,  and  falling  in  with  new 
tribes  of  the  natives.     Their  canoes,  hollowed  from  the  Ceyba-tree, 
were  of  gigantic  size— some  of  them,  he  says,  being  capable  of  accom- 
modating an  hundred  and  flfty  persons.     It  was  not  until  the  5th  of 
December,  that  the  voyagers,  having  rounded  the  eastern  extremity 
of  Cuba,  beheld  a  new  land,  high  and  mountainous,  rising  in  the 
south-east. 

It  was  the  beautiful  and  unfortunate  island  of  Ilayti,  on  which 
Columbus,  in  honour  of  his  adopted  country,  bestowed  the  name  of 
Ilisjianiola,  but  which  has  since  resumed  its  native  appellation.  On 
landing,  a  party  was  dispatched  into  the, interior,  and  found  a  large 
village,  the  inhabitants  of  which  fled  at  their  approach.  Encouraged 
by  the  assurances  of  an  interpreter,  they  at  length  ventured  back, 
to  the  number  of  two  thousand,  and  with  gestures  of  the  deepest 
reverence  and  submission,  deceived  the  mysterious  strangers.  Every 
tribute  of  simple  hospitality  was  ailbrdcd  them,  and  the  Indians 
brought,  among  other  offerings,  great  numbers  of  tame  parrots,  as 
presents  for  their  guests.  Some  of  these  birds  had  yellow  rings  on 
their  necks,  a  peculiai'ity  which  Pliny  had  remarked  of  the  parrots 


,  Chaldaic, 
is  embassy 
bom  tbey 
ac  oriental 
:;so  people 
lied  Tuba- 
Much  cot- 
jle  articles 

and  called 
into  bars, 
icasionally 
)ther  than 
ich  lavish 
ig  from  a 
of  Arner- 
sailing  in 
s  voyage, 
on,  whoso 
i  him,  and 
way  east- 
with  new 
eyba-tree, 
of  accoin- 
ho  5th  of 
extremity 
ag  in  the 

on  which 
)  name  of 
tion.  On 
id  a  large 
,  CO u raged 
I'cd  back, 
e  deepest 
3.  Every 
3  Indians 
arrets,  as 
rings  on 
e  parrots 


1 


THE  SPANIARDS   IN   AMERICA. 


43 


It  h  \  1  ""^^'^r'"'''"^  ''"  ^-'^"^'^"^^  «°"^i^*i°-  -f  Columbus 
thathe  had  arrived  on  some  unknown  shore  of  the  Orient     The 

opmion  was  not  confined  to  him.  "The  popiniays  and  many  oth  r 
tungs,  afterwards  wntes  the  learned  Peter  Martyr,  "doe  dee  e 
that  these  lands  .arour  somnokat  of  India,  eyther  bdng  near  vnl 
It,  or  else  of  the  same  nature." 

The  voyagers  were  enchanted  at  the  beauty  of  the  island    the 
deheious  mildness  of  the  climate,  and  the  gentle  manners  of  t  e 
kindly  inhabitants      Seldom  has  the  savage' life  been  found  in  a 
form  more  hairpy  innocent,  and  alluring,  than  that  depicted  by  the 
early  voyagers  to  these  fortunate  shores.     The  continual  struggb  for 
shelter  warmth,  and  food,  which  in  general  forms  the  miser^  of  an 
uncivihzed  people  was  here  almost  entirely  unknown.     Th^e  milT 
ness  of  the  air  and  l^^ie  exuberant  fertility  of  the  earth  freed  them 
from  the  first  evils  of  barbarism,  and  their  mild  and  gentle  temped 
arnent  of  character  allayed  the  usual  ferocity  of  sfvage  enn.i  y 
War  was  unfrequent  and  not  sanguinary,  and  in  general  tlie  varioT 
tribes  mingled  together  througliout  the  islands  in  perfect  confid  nee 
and  friendliness.     Columbus  is  warm  in  their  praise.     "They  are  a 
very  loving  race,"  he  informs  the  sovereigns,  "and  without  covetous- 
tjess;  they  are  adapted  to  any  use,  and  I  declare  to  your  Ili^hntses 
that  there  IS  not  a  better  country  nor  a  better  people  in  the  .omZI 
hese.     They  love  their  neighbours  as  they  do  themselves,  and  li 
language  is  the  smoothest  and  sweetest  in  the  world    bein^r  alwTv. 
uttered  with  smiles.     They  all,  both  men  and  wome'r^o    Sy 
naked;  bu  your  Highnesses  may  be  assured  that  thev  possess  my 
commendable  customs;  their  king  is  served  with  great  reveren  e 
and  every  thing  is  practised  with  such  decency  that  it  is  highly  pleas^ 
ang  to  witness  It."     ''They  display,"  he  says,  dsewhere,  "a  fi, knots 
an    liberality  in  the  r  demeanour,  which  no  one  would  believe  ."  h 
ou  witnessing  ,t.    No  request  of  any  thing  from  them  is  ever  refused, 
bu   they  rather  invite  acceptance  of  what  they  possess,  and  manife.s 
such  a  generosity,  they  would  give  away  their  own  hearts  "     He  set 
up  crosses  for  their  e,lification,  and,  from  the  readiness  with  which  they 

ma  urely,  that  they  were  ripe  and  ready  for  conversion.  They  will- 
ingly gave  their  guests  what  gold  they  had,  and  still  repeated  the  allur- 
ing  accounts  of  islands,  richer  in  the  coveted  ore,  lying  still  beyond. 
A  cacique  or  native  chief  of  high  rank,  named  Guacanagar(  had 
dispatched  an  embassy  of  welcome  to  the  strangers,  and  had  enter- 


44 


THE  PEOPLE  S   BOOK   OF  IIISTOEY. 


tained  at  his  town,  with  great  kindness  and  hospitality,  the  mes- 
sengers sent  in  return.  But  while  sailing  to  the  residence  of  this 
friendly  chief,  a  great  misfortune  befell  the  admiral,  in  the  loss  of  his 
ship,  which,  owing  to  the  carelessness  of  the  marineis,  ran  on  a  shoal 
in  the  night,  and  by  the  force  of  the  sea  and  current,  was  soon  reduced 
to  a  wreck.  The  crews  of  both,  vessels  were  now  crowded  into  the 
little  caravel  Nina,  the  only  one  remaining  under  his  command. 

The  worthy  cacique,  with  his  people,  did  all  he  could  to  alleviate 
the  misfortune.  In  their  light  canoes,  the  Indians  unladed  the  shat- 
tered vessel,  carrying  its  contents  on  shore,  and  religiously  guarding 
them,  even  to  the  smallest  article,  though  in  their  eyes  of  inestimable 
value,  for  the  use  of  the  owners.  Guacanagari  himself,  shedding 
tears  of  sympathy,  went  on  board,  comforting  the  admiral  for  his  loss, 
and  generously  offering  all  that  he  possessed.  His  people  brought 
in  considerable  gold,  which  they  readily  exchanged  for  trifles;  and 
tlie  chief,  observing  the  comforting  effect  of  this  circumstance  on  the 
minds  of  his  guests,  assured  them  that  in  the  mountains  abundance 
of  that  metal  was  to  be  found,  at  a  place  which  he  called  Cibao,  and 
which  Columbus,  as  a  matter  of  course,  concluded  could  be  no  other 
than  the  long-sought  Cipango. 

So  charmed  were  the  crews  with  the  gentleness  and  kindness  of 
their  entertainers,  that  a  number  now  besought  of  the  admiral  per- 
mission to  remain  on  the  island,  rather  than  voyage  to  Europe  in  the 
crowded  caravel.  This  scheme  was  approved,  and  all  hands,  with 
the  assistance  of  the  natives,  set  eagerly  to  work  at  breaking  up  the 
wrecked  vessel,  and  constructing  a  fortress  of  its  materials.  Guns 
were  mounted  for  its  defence,  and  the  admiral  bestowed  on  it  the 
pious  title  of  La  Navidad  or  "The  Nativity."  Thirty-nine  volun- 
teers, under  command  of  Diego  de  Arana,  composed  the  garrison, 
and  Columbus  gave  them  strict  directions  for  their  conduct,  espe- 
cially enforcing  the  necessity  of  just  and  conciliatory  treatment  of 
the  nati  ves.  The  good  cacique  promised  his  assistance  and  protection, 
and  with  tears  of  regret  took  leave  of  his  departing  guests.  The 
little  caravel  Nina,  freighted  with  the  momentous  tidings  of  the  dis- 
covery of  a  new  world,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1493,  set  sail  for  the 
shores  of  the  old. 

Two  days  afterwards,  while  slowly  coasting  along  against  bafUing 
winds,  to  the  surprise  of  Columbus,  he  saw  the  Pinta  coming  before 
An  easterly  wind.  The  vessels  joined  company,  and  the  admiral 
thtiught  best  to  accept  the  excuses  of  Pinzon,  who  averred  thatncei-' 


THE  SPANIARDS   1  iN   AMERICA. 


45 


dent  alone  had  prevented  bis  rejoining  the  squadron.     But,  in  truth 
he  had  sailed  in  quest  of  an  island,  which  he  supposed  to  abound  in 
gold;  and  had  lately  been  engaged  in  collecting  that  metal  at  Hayti 
and  m  kidnapping  the  Indians.     These,  however,  the  admiral  com- 
pelled hnn  to  restore  to  their  homes.     In  his  own  vessel,  he  carried 
six  of  the  Indians,  whom  he  had  induced  to  accompany  him,  to 
instruct  as  interpreters,  as  well  as  for  presentation  at  the  court  of 
Spain,  as  specimens  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  newly-discovered  land 
Proceeding  along  the  shore,  the  returning  voyagers  anchored  in 
the  gulf  of  Samana,  and  were  presently  engaged  in  combat  with  the 
Ciguayans-a  bold  and  warlike  race  of  mountaineers,  who.se  arrows 
and  heavy  swords  of  .palm-wood  indeed  proved  of  no  avail  against 
the  steel  and  fire-arms  of  the  Spaniards.     They  were  put  to  flight 
and  two  of  them  were  wounded— "and  thus  were  spilt  the  first  drops 
of  that  vast  ocean  of  blood,  which  for  three  centuries  has  been  poured 
out  by  the  unhappy  aborigines  of  all  America,  as  a  libation  to  the 
cruelty  and  avarice  of  the  European  races."     Despite  this  untoward 
commencement  of  their  acquaintance,  peace  and  friendliness  were 
speedily  restored  between  the  combatants;   and  the  Indian  chief 
having  visited  the  ship,  pleased  with  his  entertainment,  presented 
to  Columbus  his  coronet  of  gold-a  token  of  royal  generosity  with 
which  Guacanagan  had  already  complimented  his  visitor. 


46 


THE  I'EOPLE'S   BOOK  HISTORY. 


CHAPTER    I?, 


THE    VOY  AOR   TO   SPAIN. 


-rERII,  PROM   TEMPESTS. — llEFLECI. 


TION.i   OF   COLUMBUS, — PERFIDIOUS   CONDUCT  OF   A  PORTU- 
GUESE.—  COLUMBUS   ARRIVES  AT   LISBON. — MORTIFICA- 
TION   OP    KINO     JOHN.  — THE    ARRIVAL    AT    PALOS.— 
DEATH  OF   PINZON. — SPLENDID   RECEPTION   OP   THE 
ADMIRAL    AT    COURT.  — HONO  RS    CONFERRED     ON 
HIM.  —  HIS  SECOND  VOYAGE.  —  GREAT  EXCITE- 
MENT,—  DISCOVERY    OF    DOMlNiCA,    OUADA- 
LOUPE,  PORTO  RICO,  ETC.  —  ADVENTURES 
WITH  THE  CANNIBALS. 

On  the  Ifitli  of  January  the  vessels  again  set  sail,  but,  until  the 
commcnooment  of  the  following  month,  were  delayed  by  adverse 
winds.  They  then,  for  a  time,  made  good  headway,  but  on  the  14th 
of  February,  in  a  tremendous  storm,  the  Pinta  was  lost  sight  of,  and 
all  the  nautical  skill  of  Columbus,  equal  to  that  of  any  man  of  his 
day,  was  required  to  keep  his  little  open  craft  alive  in  the  tempestuous 
seas  of  the  Atlantic.  Many  pious  vows  and  penances  were  under- 
taken—one being  that,  at  the  first  land  they  touched,  the  admiral 
and  all  the  company,  barefooted  and  in  their  shirts,  should  go  to  offer 
up  prayers  to  the  Holy  Virgin.  That  the  tidings  of  his  g"rand  dis- 
covery might  by  chance  survive,  if  the  vessel  should  founder, 
Columbus  now  wrote  briefly  two  accounts  of  his  voyage,  one  of 
which,  imbedded  in  wax,  he  placed  in  a  barrel  and  Hung  overboard 
—the  other,  secured  in  like  manner,  he  placed  on  the  stern,  that  it 
might  fl.^nt  off,  when  the  vessel  should  be  ingulphed  by  the  waves 

His  natural  grief  at  the  prospect  of  such  an  obscure  and  drearV 
end  to  Ins  noble  achievements  and  still  grander  anticipations,  was 
heightened  by  the  lamentations  of  his  crew,  and  the  remembrance 
as  he  simply  states,  of  the  threats  and  menaces  by  which  he  had 
compelled  them  to  complete  the  voyage.  "I  could  have  supported 
this  evil  fortune,"  he  piou.sly  writes  to  his  patrons,  "with  le.^s  grief, 
had  my  person  alone  been  in  jeopardy,  since  I  am  a  debtor  for  my 
life  to  the  Supreme  Creator,  and  have  at  other  times  been  within  a 
step  of  death.  But  it  was  a  cause  of  infinite  sorrow  an.l  trouble  to 
think  that,  after  having  been  illuminated  from  on  high  with  faith 


THE  SPANIARDS  IN   AMKBICA. 


47 


and  certainty  to  undcrtnko  this  enterprise;  after  iiaving  victoriously 
achieved  it,  and  when  on  the  point  of  convincing  my  upponcnts  un'd 
securing  to  your  highnesses  great  glory  and  vast  increase  of  doniin- 
ion,  it  should  please  the  divine  majesty  to  defeat  all  Ijy  my  death 
*  *  *  *  And  although,  on  the  one  hand,  I  was  com- 
forted by  a  faith  that  the  Deity  would  not  permit  a  woik  of  such 
great  exaltation  to  his  church,  wrought  through  so  many  troubles 
and  contradictions,  to  remain  imperfect;  yet,  on  the  other  hand  I 
reflected  on  my  sins,  for  which  he  might  intend  as  a  punishment  that 
I  should  be  deprived  of  the  glory  which  would  redound  to  mo  in 
this  world." 

On  the  ir)th,  during  the  continuance  of  the  gale,  the  tempest-to'=scd 

caravel  finally  made  land;  and,  three  days  afterwards,  w;is  enabled 

to  anchor  under  the  lee  of  St.  Mary's,  the  most  southern  of  tlic 

Azore  Kslands.     Great  curiosity  was  excited  by  her  arrival  and  tlie 

Portuguese  governor  dispatched  jiresents  and  courteous  messages  to 

the  admiral,  though  with  treacherous  and  m  lignant  intent      This 

presently  appeared;  for  half  the  crew,  while  performing  thei'r  pious 

vow  in  a  chapel  of  the  virgin,  were  set  upon  by  a  rabble  route  of 

the  islanders,  horse  and  foot,  headed  by  that  functionary  himself 

who,  however,  was  grievously  di.sappointed  at  not  getting  possession 

of  the  person  of  Columbus.     It  was  not  until  the  2'6d  that  the  1-ittcr 

could  regain  his  men;  and  on  the  following  day,  wounded  at' this 

ungenerous  reception  at  the  hands  of  civilised  men,  (so  different  from 

that  of  lus  kindly  entertainers  the  savage  Ifaytians,)  he  again  got 

under  way,  and  steered  for  Spain.  j         ,j         ^       i^oi 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1493,  the  little  craft,  preserved  amid  so  many 
pe  . Is,  entered  the  mouth  of  the  Tagus.  The  greatest  curiosity  and 
exc  temen  immediately  prevailed.  The  river  was  covered  with 
boats;  and  King  John,  aware  of  the  magnitude  of  the  achievement 
received  the  discoverer  with  high  honours,  though  secretl  v  devrred 
with  chagrin  at  the  remembrance  of  the  perfidy  bv  which  he  h 

^Z'^ZZ  ^'^'"    P  '''•'^''''''   pri.o'now' rescued   W 
the  depth  of  the  ocean.     Rejecting  a  proposal  for  the  assassination 
of  Cokimbus,  suggested  by  his  more  unprincipled  advisers    he  re 
so  ved  forthwith  to  dispatch  a  powerful  force  to  anticipate  Sp    n   n 
the  seizure  of  the  tempting  lands  just  brought  to  liHu  ' 

On  the  loth,  Columbus  once  more  cast  anchoiMn  the  port  of 
ralos.  whence  a  little  more  than  seven  months  before  he  od'Taken 
Ins  departure  on  this  most  eventful  of  voyages.     The  whole    om" 


48 


THE   PKOl'LK'8    UOOK   UV  HISTORY. 


munity  was  entranced  with  joy;  the  bella  wore  rung,  nnd  a  solemn 
procession  was  made  to  the  church.    In  the  midst  of  these  rejoicings, 
the  ririta  reentered  tlio  harbour.     Tinzon,  who  hud  touclied  at  Buy- 
onne,  and  thence,  with  the  air  of  a  great  discoverer,  had  di.spatched 
liis  tidings  to  the  court,  was  filled  with  consternation  wheu  he  beheld 
the  vessel  of  his  cominander,  which  he  had  supposed  swallowed  up 
in  the  ocean,  riding  safely  in  the  harbour.     Ho  kept  in  private,  and 
in  a  few  days  died  of  a  broken  heart,  his  end  being  hastened  by  a 
reproachful  letter  which  ho  received  from  the  sovereigns.    Such  wa8 
the  melancholy  fate  of  a  man  whose  daring,  liberality,  and  enterprise 
so  materially  contribuied  to  the  discovery  of  the  New  World,  but 
all  whose  high  qualities,  by  treachery  and  insubordination,  missed  of 
the  renown  to  which  they  would  otherwise  have  been  justly  entitled. 
The  court  of  Spain,  filled  with  exultation  at  the  magnificent  tid- 
ings, summoned  the  successful  adventurer  to  Barcelona;  and,  having 
commenced  his  preparations  for  a  second  voyage,   he  journeyed 
thither  tlirough   roads  beset  by  crowds  of  curious  and   admiring 
gazers.     A  great  multitude,  headed  by  nobles  and  cavaliers,  went 
forth  from  the  city  to  meet  him;  and  as  he  passed  in  triumphal  pro- 
cession through  the  streets,  all  gazed  with  intense  curiosity  on  the 
trophies  of  the  unknown  world— on  coronets  and  ornaments  of  gold, 
the  gift  of  Indian  kings— on  the  gay  birds  from  the  forests  of  the 
Antilles— on  the  tawny  natives  of  the  new  land— and  most  eagerly 
on  the  majestic  person  of  the  great  discoverer,  already  venerable 
with  years,  and  of  a  presence  and  demeanour  whose  natural  nobility 
seemed  adequate  to  the  magnitude  and  grandeur  of  his  achievement. 
The  sovereigns,  in  a  great  public  assembly,  rose  from  their  thrones 
to  receive  him— an  honour,  in  that  proud  and  punctilious  court, 
accorded  only  to  royal  visitors.    In  an  eloquent  and  touching  nar- 
rative, he  recounted  his  adventures,  and  all  present,  moved  to  tears 
by  the  extraordinary  occasion,  fell  on  their  knees  and  returned  thanks 
to  God,  while  a  thrilling  Te  JJeum,  chanted  by  the  royal  choir,  went 
up  to  Heaven. 

The  most  splendid  acknowledgment  of  his  services  was  now  made 
by  the  grateful  sovereigns  to  their  long-neglected  j^rotcje.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  high  honours  and  dignities  already  acquired  by  his  suc- 
cess, he  was  allowed  to  quarter  the  royal  arms  with  his  own,  and  to 
add  a  group  of  islands  surrounded  by  the  waves,  with  the  magni- 
ficent legend: 


I  a  solemn 
rejoicings, 
ed  at  Bay- 
liHpatcjlied 
ho  beheld 
llowed  up 
ivatc,  and 
oncd  by  a 
Such  was 
enterprise 
'orld,  but 
missed  of 
y  entitled, 
ficcnt  tid- 
d,  having 
ourneyed 
admiring 
ers,  went 
phal  pro- 
ty  on  the 
;8  of  gold, 
sts  of  the 
t  eagerly 
i'enerable 
1  nobility 
evement. 
r  thrones 
us  court, 
ling  nar- 
i  to  tears 
!d  thanks 
oir,  went 


ow  made 
In  addi- 
'  his  suc- 
n,  and  to 
3  magni- 


!f'  ''I  i' 


I  I 


<■  II  i;  I  V  •/■./  ;  //  ;  /,■    ,  ,,  i,  ,  .,/  ,,.  ,  .v, 

T    UK       n    I    s    c    O    V    K    II    i:    R      Of-       A    M    E    II    1    r    A  . 

'"'KN  NKAR  UKN..A  AMOIT  ua",;    niSC.VKHKl)  TliK  WKST  INDIIOS,  OCTOBKH  ,■>   „■«; 
DISCOVKKKO  socril  AMKKICA.  AlinST  1,  UIH;   Dim  MAV  »1,  ir-W. 


THE   SPANIAKDS   IN   AMUKICA. 

«POR  CASTILLA  Y  POR  LEON 
NUEVO  MUNDO  HALLO  COLON."* 


49 


Tlnoughout  Europe  the  lutolligenee  of  his  wonderful  achievement 
was  received  with  the  highe.t  rapture  and  exultation-nor  eou^d  a 
spnt  akc  his  have  des.red  a  litter  reward  than  in  the  generous  tar! 
of  joy  and  enthusiasm  wliich  men  of  learning  ^nrl   „ 
reported  to  have  shed  on  hearing  of  U.^tMt:rirE:i 
htnd,  says  a  contemporary,  at  the  court  of  Henry  VII.,  the  whofe 
u  uir  was  commonly  considered  "a  thing  rather  divine  thin  human  " 
Ihe  real  grandeur  and  importance  of  the  discovery,  indeed  ^vet 
were  not  even  conjectured,  and  all  this  exultation'.ppe    s'to  have 
been  founded  on  the  practical  demonstration  of  the  roundnes   oHhe 
earth,  and  the  fact  that  its  complete  survpv  n,wi 

.!«.  ,!.„,„ .,  „,.  _,,'."i."s;     "■"  "■" 

invested  with  unlimited  ri'dit  of  dic;pn,ro,.,,      a  fiiieady 

time,  brought  L  riv„l  maio„rh  "  o    Jt  „  "^  'V"" 

the  globe.    John,  indeed,  a.  this  ver/     ,e  ,°  l't7"f  -""«  °' 
ful  armament,  inten.Iod  to  anti,.in,f„^  °"'  "  1*""™'- 

Indies,  bn.  ^<=^tijl!lX^^^^^ ^T'T  "' "''  """ 
an  infinity  of  iMri..„e  and  ati™      1  P"''"-''  "'«'  »""=■■ 

settled  for  a  time  ^ZtZZt^TT'""  ";°  '""'"'  "•'•'^ 
and  seventy  leagueJwest  of  the  A 'l,     """"^  '°  "'™  '"'"'"'' 

i..  mi™":,^  rtt!^'  :z!.r™;t"'  r "°"  '"*™"^  ™=""'-' 

impor.ar,ee  of  the  diseoX!  'Tri:   ,  de  wT"'""*  "'"'  ''" 
pa.io,,of„clneveme„tsstilln,orebrill^,;;f 't  ■"';'7'''r"'r" 

^vhich  had  well-nlh  proven   frui'  ^'^  ''■^•''"'"■^'  «"^«'-««"^«»t, 

.« on  its  oLi^-t:: t:-r  tr :- ^^^^^^^^^^ 

*  "For  Castile  nnd  for  Leon 


50 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  IIISTOEY. 


an  uiKlertn,king  already  so  prosperously  begun.  The  only  difficulty 
was  in  selecting  from  the  host  of  ardent  volunteers,  who,  moved 
by  cupidity  for  wealth,  ambition  for  fame,  or  zeal  for  conversion, 
thronged  eagerly  to  join  their  fortunes  to  the  enterprise.  "Ilere- 
iipon,"  says  Galvano,  "there  grewe  such  a  common  desire  of  trauaile 
among  the  Spanyards  that  they  were  ready  to  leape  into  the  sea  to 
swim,  if  it  had  been  possible,  to  those  new  found  parts." 

With  remarkable  promptitude,  seventeen  vessels  were  equipped, 
and  loaded  with  materials  for  the  foundation  of  a  colony.  Twelve 
pious  ecclesiastics  were  provided  for  the  conversion  of  the  natives — 
an  object  deeply  at  heart  with  the  benevolent  Isabella.  It  had  been 
intended  that  only  a  thousand  persons  should  embark  in  the  expe- 
dition; but  by  stealth,  importunity,  or  favour,  at  least  fifteen  hun- 
dred got  on  board.  The  multitudes  of  disappointed  applicants  wlio 
thronged  the  shores  and  watched  the  departing  sails,  regarded  them 
as  the  most  fortunate  of  mortals.  On  the  25th  of  September,  1493, 
with  all  his  honours  confirmed  and  augmented,  and  with  the  happi- 
est auspices  of  success,  Columbus  set  sail,  with  favourable  breezes 
from  the  harbour  of  Cadiz.  The  commencement  of  this  voyage,  and 
the  busy  days  which  preceded  it,  were  undoubtedly  the  happiest  of 
his  life.  For  one  brief  interval,  the  brilliant  sunshine  of  prosperity 
shone  fairly  on  a  life  clouded,  almost  throughout  its  duration,  by  per- 
secution, misfortune,  or  neglect. 

At  the  Canary  islands,  with  a  provident  forethought,  M'hich  added 
greatly  to  the  future  wealth  and  comforts  of  the  New  Woi'ld,  the 
admiral  took  on  board  a  variety  of  live  stock,  and  a  quantity  of  the 
most  useful  plants  and  seeds;  and  then,  on  the  13th  of  October,  once 
more  launched  fortli  into  the  Atlantic,  now  by  his  genius  and  bold- 
ness for  ever  divested  of  its  ancient  imaginary  terrors.  The  wind 
was  propitious  and  the  fleet  sped  rapidly  westward — keeping  a  course, 
however,  rather  more  to  the  soutliward  than  in  the  former  voyage, 
with  a  view  to  effecting  fresh  discoveries  on  its  way.  On  Sunday, 
the  3d  of  November,  the  lofty  peaks  of  Dominica  (so  named  in 
honour  of  its  discovery  on  the  Loi'd's  Day,)  were  hailed  with  shouts 
of  exultation.  With  a  gentle  breeze,  the  fleet  swept  onward  into 
that  splendid  archipelago,  whose  summer  islands  unite  every  beauty 
and  variety  of  tropical  and  mountainous  scenery.  One  of  these,  at 
which  the  admiral  touched,  is  still  called  ^farigalantc,  after  the  name 
of  his  ship. 

On  the  -Ith,  he  landed  at  Guadaloupe,  where  the  natives  fled  in  alarm 


I 


y  difficulty 
ho,  moved 
jonversion, 
e.  "  Here- 
of trauaile 
>  the  sea  to 

equipped, 
'.  Twelve 
3  natives — 
t  had  been 
1  the  expe- 
fteen  hun- 
ieaiils  wlio 
irdod  them 
aber,  1498, 

the  hajjpi- 
ole  breezes 
oyage,  and 
■lappiest  of 

prosperity 
oil,  by  per- 

hich  added 
World,  the 
itit}'  of  the 
tober,  (Mice 
3  and  bi)ld- 

The  wind 
ig  a  course, 
ler  voyage, 
n  Sunday, 

named  in 
\'ith  sliouts 
iward  into 
ery  beauty 
)f  these,  at 
■r  the  name 

ed  in  alarm 


THE  SPANIARDS   IN   AMERICA. 


51 


from  the  footsteps  of  the  white  men,  leaving  their  villages  deserted. 
In  their  huts,  whieh  were  neat  and  comfortable,  the  Spaniards  found 
various  ingenious  implements,  and  to  secure  the  good-will  of  the 
fugitives,  bound  hawk's-bells  and  other  trinkets  upon  the  children 
which,  in  their  hasty  flight,  had  been  left  behind      The  vis  tors' 
however,  ere  long,  were  horrified  at  discovering  numerous  humln 
remains,  such  as  skulls  converted  into" drinking  vessels  and  oSier 
domestic  utensils.     ''Our  men,"  says  a  contemporary,  "found  In S 
houses  all  kinds  o    eart^iien  vessels,  not  much  v;i]ike  unto  or 
1  h  y  fo  ind  also  in  their  kytcliens,  mans  flesh,  duckes  flesh,  &  goose 
flesh,  dl  m  one  pot,  and  other  on  the  spits  ready  to  be  layd  tf  the 
fire     Entriiig  into  their  inner  lodginges,  they  found  fa.^ottes  of 
he  bones  of  mens  armes  and  legges,  which  they  reserue°fo  mak 
leades  for  their  arrowes,  because  thej  lack  iron,  the  other  bones 
they  cast  a.^y  when  they  have  eaten  the  flesh.     They  found  like 
wise  tlie  head  of  a  yong  man  fastened  to  a  j.ost,  and  y^t  bleeding' 
Ihese  people  were  the  Caribs,  a  fierce  race  of  cannibals,  of  whom 
the  Spaniards  had  heard  on  the  former  voyage,  and  from  whom  th^ 
lands  and  the  adjacent  sea  still  take  their  name.     The  aecouilof 
their  enormities  were  received  with  lively  interest  in  Europe  as  eon 
firming  the  reality  of  cannibalism,  which  by  many  had  been  sun 
posed  a  mere  figment  of  poetry,  engendered  in  the  lively  iniagTnat  ons 
of  the  ancient  Greek  writers.  ""aginations 

At  tliis  island  tlio  fleet  was  detaincl  for  several  days,  awaitin.  the 

lies  and  cruell  countenances  tlian  do  tiie  li™,.  ,  f  r    i  •       , 
poreoine  tliciselnes  to  bee  boiin    i  "l    vit       rt!?-^'''  "''""  "l? 
.0  beliold  t„™,  but  ,10  sliall  feele  lii:'^^:  els  gl  tr^th^rtate 


52  THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTOEY. 


•     CHAPTER?. 

ARRIVAL  OF  THE  FLEET  AT  HAITI. — THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  LA 

NAVIDAD.  —  CITY   OF   ISABELLA   FOUNDED.  —  EXPEDITIONS 

TO  THE  INTERIOR. — SUFFERINGS  AND  DISCONTENT  OF  THE 

COLONISTS. — EXPEDITION  OF  COLUMBUS  TO  THE  WEST. 

DISCOVERY  OF  JAMAICA. INTERCOURSE  WITH    THE 

NATIVES. — TEDIOUS  COASTING  ALONG  CUBA. — SUP- 
POSED TO  BE  A  PORTION  OF  ASIA.  —  EXTRAORDIN- 
ARY   PROCESS.  —  THE    RETURN    VOYAGE. 

Still  keeping  north-west,  the  fleet  discovered  and  touched  at  the 
beautiful  island  of  Boriquen  or  Porto  liico,  and  after  making  further 
discoveries,  by  the  22d  arrived  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  ilayti. 
The  Indians  came  off  to  the  ships  with  their  accustomed  confidence 
and  friendliness;  but  terrible  misgivings  were  soon  awakened  by 
the  discovery  of  several  bodies  decaying  on  the  shore,  one  of  whicli, 
from  its  beard,  was  evidently  that  of  a  Spaniard.  On  the  27th,  in 
the  evening,  the  voyagers  arrived  off  La  Navidad,  and  fired  cannon 
as  a  signal  to  their  friends  on  shore.  No  salute  was  given  in  reply, 
and  all  on  board  remained  in  a  state  of  grievous  suspense,  until  the 
arrival  of  messengers  from  Guacanagari,  during  the  night,  coulirmed 
their  worst  apprehensions. 

After  the  departure  of  Columbus,  it  would  appear,  the  turbulent 
and  mutinous  spirits,  whom  he  had  left  behind,  soon  abandoned  all 
restraint,  quarrelled  with  each  other,  and  maltreated  the  Indians. 
Eleven  of  tliem,  athirst  foi-  the  possession  of  treasure,  had  .set  out  for 
the  golden  region  of  Cibao,  a  region  ruled  by  the  fierce  Carib  Caonabo, 
who  had  obtained  the  sovereignty  of  that  province,  and  was  an  object 
of  terror  to  all  the  surrounding  chieftains.  Jualous  of  the  intru.sion, 
he  had  massacred  the  adventurers,  and  tlien,  joining  his  forces  to 
those  of  a  'leighbouring  cacique,  had  stealthily  marched  to  the  attack 
of  the  Ibi'tress.  The  garrison,  surprised  in  the  dead  of  niglit,  after  a 
vain  resi.staiice,  were  .shuightered  to  a  man;  and  the  village  of  Gua- 
canagari, who  faithfully  stood  by  his  guests,  was  burned  to  the  ground. 
These  disastnjus  tidings  were  ccjiiiirmed  by  the  scene,  which  the 
morning  light  revealed  to  the  eyes  of  the  Spaniards.  The  ibrtress 
lay  m  ruins,  ami  the  Indian  village  in  ashes.     Guacanagari  was  found 


•^p— ^ 

HHHIH 

m 

1  ■  M 

"      M 

'      .« 

THE  SPANIARDS   IN   AMERICA. 

Suffering  from  a  wound  received  in  the  contest,  and  shed  tears  over 
the  misfortunes  of  his  allies  and  his  people.  Several  of  the  latter 
were  wounded,  evidently  by  Indian  weapons 

Despite  these  confirmatory  circumstances,  many  of  the  Spaniards 
doubted  the  truth  of  the  tale,  and  insisted  that  aLcanagariTmself 
had  shared  m  the  destruction  of  his  visitors.     Father  Boyl,  the  ch 
01   the  fnars,   advised  his  immediate   execution.     But   6olumbus 
believing  him  innocent  exchanged  presents  with  their  accustomed 
friendliness  and  invited  him  aboard  ship.     The  chieftain  and  his 
people  were  again  fi  led  with  amazement  at  the  new  and  marvellou 
productions  of  the  old  world,  or,  as  they  still  supposed,  of  the  distan 
realms  0    heaven;  and  gazed  with  especial  wonder  on  the  horsTs 
now  for  the  first  time  beheld ,  by  Indian  eyes.     But  he  saw  tl^  to 
many  he  was  an  object  of  suspicion  and  hostility,  and  by  refasii  '  to 
wear  the  cross,  he  increased  the  ill-will  of  the  mte  faZ!TZ^ 
afterwards,  he  re  rcated  into  the  mountains,  taking  with  him  some 
Indian  women,  whom  the  Spaniards  had  cap'tured  on  their  v^y,  and 
whom  he  succeeded  in  enticing  from  the  ships 

Leaving  this  ilbomencd  neighbourhood,  on  'the  7th  of  December 
the  governor  weighed  anchor,  and  proceeded  in  quest  of  a  more 
favourable  location  for  his  settlement.  About  ten  leagues  eaTof 
the  lo%  promontory  which  he  named  Monte  Christi,  alve  se  1 
compel  cd  him  to  put  into  a  harbor.  The  place  pres  ntcd  g  ea  nat 
nral  advantages,  as  well  for  building  as  fortification.  Two  r  ve,s 
flowed  into  1  ,  and  the  golden  mountains  of  Cibao  lay  but  a  mediate 
distance  in  th.  interior.     Here,  therefore,  he  determined  to  ]•  y  ^ 

Si;r::i:2ir'i;?cs:-::i; 

the  wor.  of  disemb.l.ng  :;:tr Si^ZZS^^^^^^^ 
and  squares  were  laid  out;  a  church,  a  public  magazine       d  a  lout       I 

ms  If  was  prostrated  with  illness;  but  in  some  measure  to  sa  is^y 
th  d,sai,pomtcd  expectants  of  inmiediate  wealth,  resolved  to  del 
patch  an  expedition  to  the  interior,  to  survey  its  resources  nd  to 
%  open  the  way  to  the  anticipated  region  of  treasure.  A  o,  "o  d^ 
Oj  da,  a  young  cavalier  distinguished  for  daring  and  activity  ws 
put  in  comnunid  of  a  small  force,  well  arined^and  resd  t     'w   , 


54 


THE  TEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY, 


wliicb,  early  in  January,  1494,  he  set  forth  for  the  interior.  Tlie 
task  of  exploration  proved  difficult  from  the  forests  and  mountains 
tlirough  which  their  course  lay;  but  they  were  received,  as  usual, 
with  much  kindness  at  the  Indian  vilhiges,  and  were  elated  at  find- 
ing in  the  sands  of  the  mountain  torrents  glittering  particles  of  the 
coveted  ore.  Having  been  absent  for  a  number  of  days,  they 
returned  with  encouraging  reports. 

Reassured  by  these  favourable  tidings,  Columbus  now  dispatched 
to  Spain  twelve  of  his  vessels,  with  specimens  of  the  gold  and  the 
natural  productions  of  the  island,  and  a  number  of  Caribs  whom  he 
had  captured  in  his  cruise  among  the  Cannibal  Islands.  These 
pagans,  he  requested,  might  be  instructed  in  Spanish  and  Christianity, 
and  thus  become  useful  as  missionaries  and  interpreters  among  their 
anthropophagan  bretliren.  Further  to  promote  the  work  of  conver- 
sion, he  proposed  to  establish  a  regular  trade  with  the  mother-country, 
by  which  live  stock  might  be  furnished  to  the  colony  in  exchange  for 
a  regular  supply  of  cannibals,  duly  to  be  caught  and  sent  home  for 
their  spiritual  good  and  the  merely  incidental  value  of  their  services 
as  slaves.  This  notable  scheme,  (by  which,  it  was  believed,  "a  vast 
number  of  souls  would  be  snatched  from  perdition  and  carried  as  it 
were  by  main  force  to  heaven,")  fell  through,  from  the  benevolent 
disapprobation  of  the  queen. 

Hardier  had  the  vessels  taken  their  departure,  when  the  imjiatient 
colonists,  dispirited  by  work  and  sickness,  and  disai:)pointed  in  their 
golden  hopes,  began  to  exhibit  signs  of  mutiny  and  a  desire  to  aban- 
don the  settlement.  A  scheme  for  seizing  the  ships  was  detected  by 
the  vigilance  of  the  governor.  A  slanderous  memorial  against  him 
was  found  concealed  in  one  of  the  buoys.  The  chief  ringleader  was 
sent  home  to  Spain,  atid  others  were  moderately  punished;  but 
enmities  and  resentments  were  awakened  against  the  admiral,  readily 
obnoxious  as  a  foreigner,  which  were  destined  greatly  to  thwart  and 
embarrass  his  future  undertakings.  On  recovering  from  his  illness, 
his  energetic  spirit  at  once  found  employment  in  the  task  of  explora- 
tion. Leaving  his  brother  Diego  in  command  of  the  town,  he  set 
forth,  on  the  12th  of  March,  with  four  hundred  men,  well  armed 
and  equipped,  for  the  interior.  Crossing  the  beautiful  Y(>ga  Real, 
or  Royal  Plain,  and  every  where  received  with  wondering  curiosity 
and  unbounded  hospitality  by  the  Indians,  the  expedition  finally 
entered  the  rugged  passes  of  Cibao,  or  tlie  "  Region  ofStones,"  through 
which  the  heavy  armed  soldiers  toiled  with  difliculty,  though  con- 


THE   SPANIAED8   IN   AMEKICA. 


55 


soled  for  the  hurdslups  of  the  ^^'ay  by  tlie  sigl.t  of  golden  particles 
ghstcinng  amid  the  sands   of  the   streams.     The   most   flattcrin- 
accounts  were  given  by  the  natives  of  treasures  locked  up  still  deeper 
in  the  recesses  of  the  mountains-lumps  of  gold,  they  said,  were  to 
be  found  as  big  as  an  orange,  or  even  as  large  as  the  head  of  a  child 
Ilaving  marched  eighteen  leagues,  n.ostly  through  a  rugged  and 
d.mcult  country,  Columbus  halted  his  forces,  dispatchinga  sin-ill 
party  to  make  further  exploration,  and  employing  the  remainder  in 
the  erection  of  a  fortress.    His  scouts  brought  back  fovourabl<3  reports 
of  the  wealth  of  the  country,  and  leaving  fifty-six  men,  under  coin- 
mand  of  1  edro  Margarite,  at  the  new  post,  he  took  his  way  to  Isa- 
bella, where  he  arrived  after  an  absence  of  seventeen  day.s.     Here 
much  to  h,s  satisfaction,  he  found  the  E,iropean  plants,  which  he 
had  committed  to  the  earth,  flourishing  with  remarkable  exuberance 
Wheat  came  to  perfeeton  in  a  little  more  than  two  months  from  the 
sowing,  and  the  sugar  canes,  destined  in  these  islands,  at  no  distant 
day    to  supply  the  markets  of  half  the  world,  had  thriven  most 
kindly  in  the  virgin  soil  and  tropical  climate  of  Uayti 

But  the  influences  so  benign  and  propitious  to  vegetation,  were 
falling  with  deadly  and  withering  effect  on  the  frames  of  the  colo- 
nists, as  yet  unacclunated  to  the  dangerous  atmosphere  of  the  island 
Fevers  and  other  tropical  maladies  prevailed;  and  that  mali-ni  dis- 
order, the  terror  of  licentiousness,  contracted  from  the  natives,  filled 
the  hearts  of  the  Spaniards  with  a  novel  affright  and  dismay.     De- 
spite these  unfavourabe  circumstances,  the  governor  pusued  on  his 
plans;  the  work  of  building  and  cultivation  went  forward;  but  by 
compelling  he  hidalgos  and  cavaliers  in  his  train  to  share  in  the 
labours  of  the  infant  settlement,  he  awakened  enmities  which  exor- 
cised an  unfavourable  influence  on  his  interests  at  court.     Short 
allowance  became  necessary,  and  Father  Boyl,  with  his  ghostly  con- 
lederates,  was  aggrieved  and  disgusted  at  being  included  in  the  gen- 
eral or  er  for  stnited  rations.     Many  of  the^nfortunate  colo'^  s 
perished  from  diseases  incident  to  the  climate,  aggravated  by  uinc 
customed  labour,  and  by  change  and  insufllciencrof  diet      ' 

1  he  ill-conduct.of  the  garrison  of  the  inland  fortress  of  St.  Thomas 
soon  provoked  the  enmity  of  the  Indians,  and  tidings  came  ,  o 

countiy.  To  refresh  the  colonists  by  change  of  air,  as  well  as  to 
over-awe  and  conciliate  the  natives,  Columbus  now  pr  pared  a  e^,  a 
grand  expedition.     Ojeda.  with  four  hundred  men   w  s  sen    toth 


''**^.. 


M 


66 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


fortress,  with  directions  to  assume  the  command,  while  ^^arga^ite, 
witli  the  army,  was  to  make  fresh  surveys  of  the  country,  visiting 
the  various  caciques  for  the  purpose  of  securing  their  good-will,  as 
well  as  displaying  the  power  of  the  Spaniards.  Caonabo  and  his 
brothers  were,  if  possible,  to  be  secured,  and  any  injuries  com- 
mitted by  the  Indians  were  to  be  summarily  punished;  but  strict 
injunctions  were  given  that  the  natives,  in  general,  should  be  treated 
m  the  mildest  and  most  conciliatory  manner,  and  that  no  provisions 
should  be  taken  from  them  without  a  proper  compensation.  But 
these  just  and  politic  instructions  were  little  heeded  by  the  rude 
spirits  once  fieed  from  his  personal  control.  The  expedition,  on  the 
9th  of  April,  left  Isabella. 

Eager  to  pursue  his  more  congenial  vocation  of  maritime  discovery, 
Columbus  now  delegated  his  authority  as  governor  to  his  brother 
Diego,  with  a  council,  and  on  the  24th  of  Ai)ril,  1494,  with  the  Nina 
and  two  other  small  caravels,  set  forth  on  a  new  voyage  of  explora- 
tion.   Steering  to  the  westward,  he  soon  fell  in  with  Cuba  and  coasted 
along  its  southern  shore,  enjoying,  wherever  he  landed,  the  most  kind 
and  hospitable  treatment  from  the  native  inhabitants.    A  great  island 
they  informed  him,  lying  to  the  southward,  was  rich  in  gold;  and 
therefore,  on  the  od  of  Hay,  he  again  turned  his  prow  in  quest  of 
the  ever-fleeting  Babeque.     The  lofty  summit  of  Jamaica  soon  rose 
above  the  horizon,  and  two  days'  sailing  brought  him  to  its  shores. 
The  people  of  this  island,  brave  and  warlike,  at  first  opposed  the 
landing  of  the  strangers,  assailing  them  from  their  canoes,  and  hnrl- 
ing  their  javelins,  in  great  numbers,  from  the  beach.     They  were 
put  to  flight,  however,  by  the  superiority  of  European  weapons,  and 
tiie  admiral,  landing,  took  jiossession  of  the  island,  which  he  named 
Santiago— a  name,  indeed,  which  has  proved  unable  to  supplant  the 
beautiful  original.     The  Indians,  with  their  usual  placabilitv,  were 
soon  on  good  terms  with  the  victors;  and  the  little  squadron,  as  it 
coasted  along,  was  continually  surnninded  with  their  canoes.     One 
of  these,  hollowed  fum  a  single  tree,  probably  the  Ceibn,  was  niiu-ty- 
six  feet  in  length,  and  eight  in  breadth.     These  people  seemed  moro 
ingenious  and  industrious  than  any  yet  seen  by  the  Europeans. 

Finding  no  gold  in  Jamaica,'  Columbus  again  took  his  way  to 
Cuba,  where  he  found  the  curiosity  and  rcviTcnco  of  the  natives 
highl,y  excited  by  the  reports  of  tliose  who  had  already  met  the 
expedition.  They  knew  of  no  end,  tliey  siiid,  to  the  land  in  wliich 
they  dwelt,  and  ho  therefore  supposed  it  to  be  a  portion  of  the  main- 


f 


^^'ItiSi 


THE  SPANIARDS   IN   AMERICA. 


57 


land  of  Asia     Proceecl.ng  westward,  he  pushed  his  way,  with  much 
danger  and  d.fliculty,  through  the  intricate  navigation  of  that  beau- 
iful  archipehago,  winch  he  named  the  Queen's  Garden,  and  wliich 
he  supposed  to  be  the  same  as  that  described  by  his  favourite  author 
Finally,  gammg  the  open  sea,  he  again  landed,  on  the  3d  of  June 
and  hdd  n.tcrcourso  with  the  natives.     Their  reports  confirmed  his 
error,  and  even  mspred  his  mind  with  hopes  that  he  was  in  the 
ncighbou  hood  of  that  fabulous  potentate,  the  renowned  Proster 
John,  with  whom  ,t  had  been  the  fruitless  aim  of  so  many  sover- 
e,gns  to  cornmumcate.     With  sanguine  hopes,  he  pressed  on,  meet- 
ing the  kinc  OS    reception  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  coast,  who 
thronged  with  debght  about  his  vessel.     He  supposed  that  by  keep- 
ing along  the  shore  he  should,  ere  long,  arrive  at  the  Gulf^of  tl  e 
Ganges  and  the  Arabian  Sea  an.l  thence  pass  to  the  straits  of  Babel- 
mandel.     He  even  conceived  tne  daring  project,  with  his  little  fl^ct 
of  open  vessels,  of  coasting  around  Africa,  triumphing  over  the  riV 

tirglu'r  '""""'  "^  "'^"^  "  *'"  '''''  circumnavigator  of 

But  this  splendid  design,  had  his  theory  been  correct,  must  have 
fallen  through  from  the  inefficient  state  of  his  command.     Tl  c  ^r 
avels  were  wretchedly  leaky  and  sea-worn.      His  provision     h  id 
nearly  given  out.     The  navigation  had  again  beeomi  pe  i  ou 
intncate  in  the  extreme,  the  coast  consisting  of  low  swamn    .  d'  v  s 
thickets  of  mangrove,  and  being  covered,  for  and  nea  "     t     ll 
and  archipelagos  of  innumerable  islands.     The  crews,   vo      out  bv 
to,  and  exposure,  earnestly  remonstrated  against  procoklin.  f.^.ef 
Colninbns  reluctantly  admitted  the  necessity  of  retlirn ;  but  t^  autl  0": 
fcate    ns  supposed  ascertainment  of  the  loca]it3,  took  a  s^      "r 
preeautum      Being,  it  is  supposed,  somewhere  nc.    the  B.'v  o    P  H 
PP-.-a   all  hands  were  solen.nly  questioned,  before  a  not  Ty  publ 
as  to  the,r  op.n.on  of  the  coast  they  had  surveyed.     PrZt' d  by 
a  desire  for  return,  and  probably  placing  implicit  futh    nZ  t^I. 
ment  of  then-  commander,  the  whole  command,  includ  n    Vv    tl 
exj^eneneed  gj^graphors  and  navigators,  unanimously    ^^^^i^' 
.a    the  land  t  ey  had  so  long  followed  was  no  other  tl  a    tie    o.  [ 
o   Asia;  and  tl.e  notary  proclainunl  grievous  pcnalti J"a    stTv 
M-ho  should  afterwa-ds  recant  his  opinion  "  " 

At  the  time  of  this  extraordinary  process,  Columbus  was  so  near  the 
ostern  extremity  of  the  island,  that  two  or  three  days'  sail  wouM  l  ve 
brought  him  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico     -     "  •niuouidhave 


I'o  the  day  of  his  death  he  f: 


inn 


h' 


68 


THE  PEOPLE'S    UO^K   OF  IIISTOKY 


bclioved  that  Cuba  was  the  eastern  projection  of  tlic  continent  of  Asia. 
On  the  loth  of  June,  lie  turned  his  prow  to  tlie  eastward,  and  ere  long 
discovered  tlie  Islo  of  Pines,  wliich  he  named  Evangelista.  The  re- 
turn voyage,  retarded  by  storms  and  contrary  winds,  occupied  three 
months,  during  which  much  friendly  intercourse  was  held  with  the 
natives  of  Culxa  and  Jamaica.  It  was  not  until  the  last  of  Septem- 
ber that  the  squadron  regained  Isabella;  Columbus,  exhausted  by 
five  months  of  continual  anxiety,  watching  and  exposure,  being  car- 
ried ashore  completely  insensible,  and  apijareutly  at  the  point  of  death. 


CHAPTER   ?L 

IIISCOXDUCT    OF    THE    SPANIARDS    IX    IIAYTI.  —  HOSTILITIES 
0  r  T  li  E    INDIAN;!  — THEIR    D  E  F  E  A  T  A  N  D    EN  s\  A  V  E  M  E  N  T. 
—  INJURIOUS  TREATMENT  OF  COLUMBUS. — APPOINT- 
MENT OF  AGUADO. — THEIR  RETURN  TO  SPAIN. 

DuniXG  the  protracted  absence  of  their  commander,  the  mutinous 
colonists,  relieved  from  the  weight  of  his  pcisonal  authority,  had 
fallen  into  much  license  and  anarchy.  Margarite,  instead  of  fuHillino- 
the  duties  of  his  important  mission,  by  visiting  the  caciques,  concili- 
ating the  doubtful  and  overawing  the  inimical,  liad  only  sought  the 
gratilication  of  his  own  self  iniijortance  and  licentiousness.  Ilis  peo- 
ple were  not  slow  to  follow  his  example;  and  the  natives,  with  alarm 
and  disgust,  beheld  their  provisions,  their  little  stock  of  gold,  and 
their  women,  forcibly  wrested  from  them  by  those  whom,  so  little 
time  before,  they  had  welcomed  as  visitors  from  the  celestial  regions. 
Diego  Columbus,  wanting  suOicient  energy,  had  been  unable  to  re- 
press these  disorders;  and  finally  Margarite  and  Father  Boyl,  hav- 
ing plunged  the  whole  colony  into  trouble,  seized  certain  ol'  the  ships, 
and,  with  their  faction,  dreading  the  return  of  the  admiral,  left  hast- 
ily for  Spain.  The  army,  abandoned  by  its  leader,  roved  through 
the  country,  committing  all  manner  of  outrages  on  the  Indians,  and 
exciting  their  implacable  enmity  against  the  Eurojjeans. 

The  island  of  Ilayti,  at  this  time,  was  divided  into  five  native 
principalities  or  kingdoms,  each  ruled  by  a  separate  eacicpie,  to  whom 
all  inferior  chieftains  in  his  district  paid  submission.    That  of  ilarien, 


TIIK  SI'AMAUIJS   IN    A.MKKICA.  gg 

iu  the  .orthorn  part  Of  the  island,  and  surrounding  the  settlement 
c/lsubellu,  was  heklby  Goacanagari,  the  Ibnacr  irieud  of  CoUuubus. 
Over  he  beautiful  V  e,a  lea],  or  iioyul  I'Jain,  the  riehest  portion  of 
the  .sland,  ruled  u  powerful  chief  culled  Guurionex.  Thj  province 
01  Xaragua  jnc.d.ng  the  lake  of  that  nan.e,  in  the  we.t.  was  .lov- 
erned  by  Behecluo.  Cotubanama  held  «way  over  the  t  rritorf  of 
Il.gucy,  in  the  east,  and  the  dreaded  Caonabo  ruled  over  Maguana 
luclu  nrg  the  golden  n.ountu.ns  of  Cibao.     The  population  of  thJ 

•n      -  !'^^ '  f  "-^"^P^  -'^  exaggeration,  to  have  amounted  to  a 
millioa  01  souls.  ""^  " 

Tho.se  people  though,  for  the  most  part,  placable  and  unwarlike 
now,  ollended  by  repeated  injuries,  had  commenced  reprisals-  ■  nj 
though  not  ven turiug  on  any  open  attack,  had  .ut  oif  s  r  gglcr:    a 
one  instance  to  the  number  of  ten,  and  otherwise  harassed  tll^nlr'ad 
crs     Caonabo  alone,  deeming  the  time  propitious,  and  rememb    i  .. 
Ins  numph  a  La  ^avidad,  ventured  on  overt  warfare.    II.  ,narc      f 
with  a  great  force,  against  the  fortress  of  St.  Thomas,  where  0,".; 
was  stationed  with  only  fifty  Spaniards;  but  the  latter  stronldv'ib 
tified,  made  a  gallant  defence,  and  after  a  siege  lasting  thirty  day 
tne  Indian,  weary  of  the  attempt,  at  last  broke  up  and  displed  to 
heir  homes,     aiieir  indomitable  cacique,  still  bent  on  the  nu,- 
lon  of  the  invaders,  now  applied  all  his  energies  to  form  a  I^'  1 
confederacy  agamst  the  common  enemy.     All  the  caciques  ret urJd 
favourable  answers,  exceut  Gu-ip-i. ,■,,,.>,.;      i  •  "1,  ="*^''"riieu 

lus  white  allies,  and  who  hi  conZl'^  ''""'T^  '""''"'''^  ^" 

and  depredation  ii-om  th^  :dX^:g;:;r^^^^^'  ""^"^"'^^^'^ 
Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs,  distracted  by  domestic  .edition 
and  menaced  by  native  hostility,  when  Cohuubusf  prost        1  btd 
gerous  Illness,  was  borne  into  the  harbour  of  Isabella.     The  wtt' 

ZZ' B^tl  7       ""  "^'^''  '"*  '''  ^^-  circumstance     .    " 
biothei  Bartholomew,  a  man  of  stern  and  energetic  character   ib 

any  ye.u-s  the  sharer  of  his  hopes  and  disappointnicnts, Xr m '  li 
abseee,  had  arrived  at  the  port,  in  command  of  u  snia  1  ^  dio 
fre.«Ute    with  supplies.     Incapacitated  by  illness  fi^om  d   j^  n      he 

au-s  0    the  colony.  Columbus  conferred  on  this  brother  thom 
of  Ade  antado  or  heutenant-governor-an  office  for  which  he  w^! 

t  .e  .cope  of  the  admiral  s  authority~but  a  measure  reoarded  with 


m 


60  THK   I'KOl'l.  K'H    U(,i)K   OF  HISTORY. 

Tlio  now  deputy  took  vij^orous  inoasiircH  for  tlui  (1cf(>nco  of  tlio 
colony  ami  its  ivstonitioii  to  order.  A  lio.stilo  I'oreo  of  the  IiidiiiriH 
wiiH  deleated,  witli  iiiueli  loss,  luid  ji  new  fortress  was  erected  in  tlie 
A*ei,'a.  Ciioiiubo,  the  invoterato  onctny  of  tlio  whites,  wns  secured 
hv  an  extraordinary  pieeo  of  erafl  and  audacity  prac^tised  by  Ojeda, 
'I'iiat  redoubted  cavalier,  with  only  ten  eoinpanioiis,  marching  for  sixty 
leagues  tiiroujj;h  the  forests,  suddenly  presented  himself  at  the  court 


.f  tl 


le  savaiio  (Uiit 


(lain.      Tiie  latter,  chunned  with   his  boldness, 


received  iiini  well,  and  oven  ajfreed  to  aeeom 


ment. 


iiev  set  lor 


th 


accon 


liiiirb 


pany 


him  to  the  .settli 


y,  with  a  large  firce  of  warriors. 


and  on  the  way,  tlu;  wily  Spaniard,  under  pretcn(ui  of  ornament, 
contrivi>d  to  fasten  on  the  wrists  of  his  companion  a  pair  of  brilliant 
steel  shackles.  Having  induced  the  fettered  caci((ue  tt>  mount  behind 
him,  he  gave  spurs  t*)  his  horse,  and  after  a  diilicult  march,  suceeeded 
in  bringing  his  prize  safely  to  the  settlement.  The  fierce  eaiitive, 
undaunted  l>y  liis  misfortune,  maintained  a  bold  and  hauglity  de- 
meanour, even  to  the  admiral,  and  boasted  of  the  destruction  of  La 
Navidad.  t)jeda,  inde<'d,  he  treated  with  high  respect,  admiring,  witli 
true  savage  appreciation,  tlie  audacious  tiick  by  which  he  had  been 
entrapped.  One  of  his  brothers,  a  brave  and  able  warrior,  resolved 
to  (>l1'cct  his  relea.se,  raised  a  force  of  .several  thousaml  men,  with 
which  ho  mari'hed  against  the  SjKinish  settlement;  but  these  unclad 
and  feebly-armed  numbers  wove  unable  to  withstand  the  unwonted 
terrors  of  cavalry  and  nni.sketry,  and  were  defeated,  with  much 
slaughter,  by  Ojeda. 

In  the  autumn  (M04\  much  to  the  relief  of  the  colony,  four  ves- 
sels arrived  i'mm  Spain,  bringing  siipjilics^  nnd  also  a  considerable 
nnndu'r  of  mechanics  and  husb;indmen.  On  their  return,  Columbus 
sent  home  a  considerable  quantity  of  gold,  and,  in  accordance  with 
the  barbarous  usage  of  the  day,  by  which  all  inlidels  and  j>agan.s 
were  held  as  ju'ojier  subjects  for  oppre.'Jsion,  five  hundred  Indian 
captives,  for  sale  in  the  sl;ivc-market  ol'  Seville.  To  the  honour  of 
IsalH'Ua,  on  their  arrival,  slu>  countermanded  the  order  lor  tlieir  sale, 
and  directed  that  they  should  be  returned  to  tlieir  homos — dispatch- 
ing at  the  .same  time,  unhappily  with  little  efl'ect,  strict  cu'ders  for 
kind  and  conciliatory  treatment  toward  the  natives  in  general. 

Indignant  at  the  captivity  ot'thcir  fellow-sovereign,  all  the  eaeiquos, 
except  (luacanagari,  entered  into  a  fresh  and  formidable  confederacy 
against  the  Spaniards.  Tn  March,  llt'.'>,  a  great  force,  sufrieient,  it 
was  thouj;ht,  to  oyerwhelm   the   feeble   settlements  of  the  whites, 


TlIK   Hl'ANIAKDS    IN    AMKUK'A, 


61 


nuistcrcd  not  far  from  IhhIjoIIu,     ColimibiiH,  mm  recovorod  fmtn  liin 
illness,  with  nartliolomovv,  ut  tho  lieail  of  only  two  hundred  men,  the 
whole  availuhlo  lorcoof  tho  eolony,  marched  forth  to  give  them 'bat- 
tic.     'I'hc  disparity  of  Ibrco  was  less  than  might  he  supposed,  for  his 
men  were  armed  to  the  teeth,  aflor  the  European  fashion,  and  were 
provided  with  horses  and  bkxxlhounds— both  objects  of  especial 
terror  to  the  Indians.     He  fell  in  with  tlic  ill-arrayed  and  undi.sci- 
plincd  masses  of  the  enemy,  near  the  site  of  tho  town  of  St.  dago; 
and  by  a  skilful  manaiuvre,  at  once  succeeded  in  throwing  tlicni 
into  confusion.     A  charge  of  cavalry  had  its  usual  elfect;  luid  the 
ferocious  bloodhounds,  the  .lisgrace  of  Spanish  warfare,  sprin-in-r  ia 
their  midst,  and  tearing  their  halfclad  bodies,  completed  the^Jlribut 
Many  were  slain    and  many  more  nuido  prisoners;  and  tho  Indian 
army,  seized  with  a  panic,  broke  up,  and  took  refuge  in  the  mount- 
ains.    The  i)ower  of  the  confederacy  was  completely  overthrown 
Ouaean:.gan,  who   had   taken   part  with   the  Spaniards,   unable  to 
endure  the  general  hatre.l  of  his  countrymen,  betook  himself  to  -x 
solitary  place,  where  he  perished  of  inortilicatiou  and  remorse 

Nearly  the  whole  island,  after  this  decisive  action,  submitted  to 
the  victors;  and  Columbus,  marching  through  the  eountrv,  dictated 
conditions  of  peace  to  the  vanquished  caciques,  severe  in  tlfe  extreme 
J^ortresses  were  erected  in  their  several  provinces;  and  to  sunplv  the 
heavy  tribute  demanded  by  tho  con.pieror,  their  people,  ii,  elfeet 
were  reduced  to  complete  slavery.      Kaeh  native  over  the  a-e  of 
ou. teen    was  compelled  to  furnish,  every  three  „,onths,  a  iKuvk's- 
bc I   1,  led  with  gold  dust-these  tinkling  toys,  which,  so  lit.Ie  belo.e 
-1  charmed  them  as  the  gifts  of  heaven,  being,  bv  a  pitiful  eoinei! 
donee,  selected  as  the  measure  of  their  toil  and  enslavement      The 
jHl.H.ration  which  we  feel  for  the  genius  ami  tho  virtues  of  Colum- 
bus ,s  most  unpleasantly  eheckod  by  tho  remembrance  of  his  sevcM- 
1  ..s  toward  tlio..e  who  had  welcomed  him  with  such  kind:,es,  ,o 
tlHMr  shores,  and  whose  feeble  enmity  had  been  excited  onlv  l,v 
repea,e<l  wrong  and  outrage.    He  was  a  man.  undoubtediv,  in  advanJo 
I     lns,nn.Mn  ld.rality  and  humanity;  but,  desirous  tJ^ubsiai 

cou-t  In  the  t>  ,ns,n,ss,ou  of  treasure,  charged  Ins  conseienee  with  ,i,o 

en.  u.wnt  of  a  w  u,le  people-^a  light  charge,  he  n.av  have  .hou  .1, 
-    IKU  day  ol   nUoleraiK-e  and  cruelty,  when   unbelievers  were  Md 
o  h.ive  no  nghts  at  all,  or,  ,f  any,  only  to  ,l,c  dry  exchange  of  .la. 
oornoral  serv.ees  f  .r  ,hc  priceless  onportunitv  of  conversion 


62 


THE  PEOPLE'S   ItOOK   OF   IIISTOKY. 


Ihe  careless  indolence  find  the  gonial  dependence  on  propitious 
nature,  which  heretofore  had  made  the  happiness  of  these  simple 
people,  was  now  for  ever  at  an  end.     Their  slender  frames,  unaccus- 
tomed  to  toil,  were  exhausted  by  the  weary  task  of  searching  the 
sands  of  their  rivulets  for  a  scanty  pittance  of  gold,  or  of  raising  food 
a.Kl  cotton  for  the  use  of  their  taslcmastcrs.     Vainly  hopin-^,  bv  ne- 
cctmg  these  supplies,  to  induce  their  oppressors  to  depart,"  th  "y 
1-naIly  abandoned  their  homes  and  plantations,  and  took  refu/e 
among  the  mountains.     Thither  their  masters   pursued    them,  to 
enforce  a  return  to  their  labours.     Ti.ey  wandered  from  one  retreat 
to  another,  vainly  attempting  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  their  merciless  ' 
pursuers.     Many  thousands  perished  of  exposure  and  starvation,  and 
the  remainder,  despairing  of  escape,  returned,  and  once  more  submit- 
ted  to  tlie  commands  of  their  conquerors. 

While  these  affairs  were  going  on,  the  malcontents  who  had 
returned  to  Spain,  filled  the  ears  of  the  court  with  clamorous  com- 
plaints or  whispered  slanders,  fatal  to  the  credit  of  Columbus  His 
rigiits  were  infringed  by  permitting  others  to  fit  out  expeditions  in 
the  same  direction,  and  a  commissioner  was  appointed  to  investi.vato 
the  aflairs  of  Ilispaniola.  Juan  Agua<lo,  the  person  intrusted  with 
this  deheate  mission,  and  a  man  whom  Columbus  had  much  oblh^ed 
set  sail  with  four  vessels,  freighted  with  supplies,  and  in  October' 
ll.'o,  while  the  governor  was  absent  in  the  inferior,  arrived  at  ihe 
port  of  Isabella.  Mindless  of  former  obligations,  and  eager  to  exer- 
cise his  authority,  he  commenced  with  indecent  haste  his  ta^k  of 

Hitermeddhng-collectingevery.speeiesof questionable  evidence  and 
ending  a  ready  ear  to  the  Voice  of  complaint  or  calumnv.     Coluin- 
l"is,  to  avert  fins  hostile  inlluei.ce,  ju-eparcd  to  return  with  the  eoni- 
inissioner,  to  defend  his  character  and  his  rights  in  person.     Their 
dei^irture  was  delayed  by  a  terrilic  hurricane,  which  ravaged   the 
island   ,n   a   fearful   manner,   and   destroyed  every  vessel   in   ,,ort 
-x'vpt    tl,e   Nina.     This  delay  was   advantageous  to   the   admiral' 
ciial.lmg  Inm  to  return  under  ihe  favourable  auspices  of  a  valuable 
dis.overv.     A  fugitive  from  the  law,  bv  the  favour  of  an   Indian 
^v"inan,  with  whom  he  had  taken  refuge,  discovered  rich  <soh\  mines 
on  the  southern  coast,  and  purchased  his  pardon  with  the  intelli..ence 
^  -.Inn.bus,  having  confirmed  the  truth  „f  the  tidings,  at  one?  con' 
o  n,  ed  that  these  wen.  no  other  than  the  mines  of  Ophir,  so  fluuous 
HI  tlie  days  of  Kmg  Solomon. 

The  Nina  was  repaired  and  a  new  caravel  was  built;  and  on  fl  c 


THE  SPANIARDS   IN   AMEEICA. 

10th  of  March,  1496.  Columbus  and  Aguado,  with  more  than  two 
hun.lred  colomsts  desirous  of  return,  set  sail  in  company  for  Spain 
There  were  also  tlnrty  Indians,  including  Caonabo  and  his  brihr' 
The  vessels,  detained  by  head  winds,  were  a  whole  month  in  get  tn' 
to  Guada  oupe.     They  loft  that  island  on  the  20th  of  April   and  for 
a  mont  1  longer  ted.ously  beat  again.*  the  trades.     The  overlcrov  dec 
crews  beset  by  the  danger  of  famin     were  put  on  short  allow  nc 
and,  but  or  the  stern  interposition  o:  Columbus,  would  have  th  !wn 
overboard  or  devoured  their  unhappy  eaptives.     The  two  chiefs 
'dyed  by  the  way,  for  very  pensiveness  and  anguish  of  minde  "  ., 
the  vessels,  on  the  10th  of  June,  in  miserable  phght,  entered  the    ay 


C  H  A  I  T  E  H   ?  I  L 

THE  D.CLI.MXO   FORTUNES    OF    CO  UMIl,  US.-D  I  FFIOFI  TY    IV 

PITTINO  OUT  AN  EX  P  K  I. ,  T 1 0  N-S  A  1 1,  S  ON  „I.S   T  I       n   yOY 

,0E.-TO  DISCOVEIU  OF  SOUTH    AMEiaCA.-E,T7.V    R- 

DIXARY   TnEOIU.-COr,UM,U-S   ARUIVES   AT   If  U  T  r  - 

DISORDEHS   THERE.-TIIE   REREI.LION  OF   ROI  lUN  1 

HOSTIEITIES  WITH  THE  IN.IANS.-THEIR  DEFEAT. 

Pr.Mc  opinion,  disappointed  in  the  returns  of  treasure  which  it 
had  expected    now,   with   its  usual  renetioi,   luul  turnc'l    .  '   , 

^.;j;i.eh.i,bumi,:^^^ 

rc.e,vod   h,m  graciously,  and  pLn.scd   that  si^l^l  '    ^  t 
oniirossiii'i'   iiten>v!f<  ,if  TT,,,  ,■•  '"■    i^'h  nuts,  aiiu  tlio 

"^'Hi,  .uui,  a.s  tai  as  she  could,  protected  Lis.  intercut? 


64 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  IIISTOKY. 


against  tlie  rajjacitj  of  rival  aspirants.  She  even  oriered  to  create 
him  duke,  with  an  extensive  principality  in  llispaniola;  but,  fearing 
to  excite  fresh  envy,  he  declined  the  tempting  proposal. 

'J'lie  dinicnlty  experienced  in  fitting  out  tlic  desired  exi)edition, 
and  tlie  reluctance  of  adventurers  to  enibaik,  formed  a  striking  con- 
trast with  tlie  disphvy  of  royal  favour  and  popular  enthusiasm,  wliich 
had  marked  liis  last  departure  from  the  shores   of  Spain.     The 
intrigues  of  Fonseca,  tlie  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and  liis 
secret  enemy,  produced  delays  intolerable  to  liis  eager  and  adventur- 
ous spirit;  and  the  alarm  excited  by  the  reports  of  the  disappointed 
refugees,  withheld  volunteers  fi'om  hastily  embarking  on  a  doubtful 
cx|iedition.     Ai'bitrary  orders  were  finally  issued  for  the  impress- 
ment of  vessels  and  their  crews;  and  to  supply  the  deficiency  in  the 
required  mnuber  of  colonists,  resort  was  had  to  the  miserable  expc- 
dient  i)f  embarking  convicts  anil  other  ill  characters  ibr  the  settle- 
ment of  the  islands.     It  was  not  until  the  80th  of  May,  1498,  tliat 
Columbus,  w  ilji  six  vessels,  set  sail  from  the  port  of  San  Lucar,  on 
bis  third  voyage  to  the  Xew  World. 

Touching  at   the   Canaries,    he  dispatched   three   of  his  vessels, 
freighted  with  supplies,  Ibr  the  use  of  the  colony,  and  with  the  rc- 
maiiuler,  on  the  oth  of  June,   again   took   his   departure,  steering 
south-west,  that  he  might  make  the  .shores  of  Asia  (as  he  supposed)" 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  evpiator.     This  course,  ere  long,  led 
him  into  that  terrible  region  of  heat  and  dead  atmo.sphcre,  extend- 
ing lor  several  degrees  on  both  sides  of  the  line,  and  known  to  navi- 
gators as  "the  calm  latitudes."     It  seemed  as  if  the  old  fables  of  the 
torrid  zone  were  to  be  verified,  for,  (says  an  ancient  writer)  "hee 
was  so  vexed  with  maladies  and  heate,  tluit  his  shippes  were  almost 
set  on  fire."     The  tar  boiled  I'lom  the  seams,  the  ca.sks  shrank  and 
iell  to  pieces,  the  provisions  spoiled,  and  the  crews  were  withered 
and  pro.strated  by  the  heat.     By  the  time  he  emerged  frt)m  this  bale- 
fid  region  into  cooler  waters  and  more  favourable  bre(.'zes,  the  ."Squad- 
ron was  in  such  a  condition  that  it  was  neces.sary  to  seek  land  as 
speedily  as  possible.     Accordingly,  having  .steered  westward  a  long 
tune  without  seeing  land,  he  headed  more  to  the  north  in  search  of 
the  Canibean   islands.     There  was  only  n  single  cask  of  water  iu 
each  vessel,   when,  on  the  olst  of  July,  land  was  seen   from   the 
mast-liead. 

The  admiral  had  piously  resolved  to  call  the  first  land  he  should 
fall  in  with  after  the  most  Holy  Trinity;  and  that  before  him  con- 


ed  to  creato 
but,  fearing 

expedition, 
iti'iking  coii- 
;iasin,  wliich 
5pain.  The 
irs,  and  Jiis 
id  advcntur- 
lisappointed 
I  a  doubtful 
he  impress- 
iency  in  the 
'ruble  ex})e- 
■  the  t^ettle- 
,  1498,  that 
I  Luuar,  ou 

lii.s  vessels, 
nth  the  re- 
re,  steering 

SUp])OSiHl), 

.'  long,  kxl 
fe,  extend- 
vu  to  navi- 
d)les  of  the 
liter)  "hee 
X're  almost 
hrank  and 

0  witliered 

1  this  bale- 
the  scpuul- 


'k  land  as 

■ 

ard  a  long 

■ 

1  search  of 

■ 

f  water  in 

■ 

I'roni   the 

1 

lie  should 

1 

i  him  cou- 

1 

THE   SPANIARDS   IN  AMERICA. 
.     .  DO 

sisting  of  three  mountainous  summite,  he  re-irded  fl,«  •  -^ 
as  a  special  providence,  and  according  vfwthmuth.  l'''"''^'r 
stowed  on  it  the  title  of  La  Trinidad-thVT  ti  i.  u  '''^"'""'tJ^'  be- 
The  voyagers  coasted  alon.  this  b  autif!l  l  7^"^  ''  '"'"  '''^^^'■ 
scener,,  the  .ate,  and  ^^a^S^^^t;''''^^^  ''' 
perceived  on  its  shores.  The  natives,  a  fof/^lT^/^'^^  *^«^ 
came  around  the  ships  in  their  cinaoJ  hJ  ?,  Ji«"dsome  race, 
venture  on  board.     On  the  Is  ofT  ^^'^  "°*  ^'  ^"^^««d  to 

the,  ..pposed  to  be  anotl^e/tllC  ^     .1^^^  h"^f  ^''' 
reality  a  part  of  the  South  AmovuL  '     "*  ^^'^'^  ^^s  in 

gerous  strait  which  selmttsl    "^  T^""'-     ^''^"'"^  *^«  ^-- 

whichhecalled'-BocaSse^    tr    fT  '^'  "^'-^^"-^^"d'  «"^ 
bus  entered  the  Gulf  of  Pant^    ^  '    ^^^'"^^  ^'  '^'  S^^P^^*-)  Colum- 

As  he  advanced,  the  water  orew  frp<!l,o^       ^  i,     • 
that  streams  so  copious  as  to  affect  such  "''''"^  concluded 

only  be  the  outpouring  of  a  contincn  A  '""P'"''  ""^  "'^  °°"'^ 
now  took  possession  of  iiis  mind  Th  '  1  ^^^raordinary  theory 
tude  so  near  the  equator,  was  mild  and  ^T'T'  '''^*^'°"^''  '"^  ^  ^^^'^ 
for  which  he  couhl  aeeou'nt  only  y  p/ot"  H^^T':^  circumstance 
the  steady  and  Hxvourable  influence  Tth'f  f  ^"^  ''^'^''  ""^«^ 
ascended  an  acclivitv  leadino-  tn  n      \  '''^''^'  ^""^  gradually 

vated  above  the  .i     Th!  ru.Sii;     ?  ?f-""  "^^'^'^  ^"^^--^« 
approaching  the  purer  region  of  the  hZ  ^""^^crful  eminence 

be  no  other  than  the  original  G.rd  IfTr''  Y  ''"''^'''^'^'  '^'^^'^ 
dise,  sought  so  long  in  vain  L    nr  "  '"'  '''"  ^^^^^^^"^^  P^^^' 

and  the  pure  streams  around  hr?,'^'""'"^'"^'^  '""^  *^^^«"«''«; 
doubtlesi  flowed  from  Jh^Ri  T'^f  ^r"?,/''^  "^^'^"  --•  ^^d 
fountain  by  the  Tree  of  Knowledge      Tl'  '^""^"'"«  ^""^"^  '^ 

(quite  in  accordance,  however  wifl,  Ti "  extraordinary  theory, 

i"  a  long  and  olabo;ate  Z'ilit  1  1''?' ''''f'^"^'^  ^"'""''^- 
-fortifying  his  conclusion  viUcln'^"  "^^""  '^''  ''''''  «^  Sp^'» 
from  the  saints  and  father    tjtr' "^^^^^^^ 
Pl-s,  and  of  the  learned  of' ll^wnTr"'^'"^^  "'  '""^''"^  P^""^'^^- 

it  poured  into  the  oc^^^Tl^    :::'::;  ^"')^'^""^^  '''"''  ^"^ 
northern  shore,  were  fiir  i„  J.  '         ™  ^'^  encountered  on  the 

den>eanour.     l^ec    ved  H^'^''  r'-1  '^  '^'^"^^  ^^^  '"-^-^ 
and  ^eadilyparted  wkh  treto     ^^'^""^^^'^  ^^'^'^  Profound  reverence, 

tbo  cupidi^of  th  i^  ti :  rw""^''^""''  "^"^^  ^"^^^  -^"-^^ 

Vol.  hi  -5  "^  ''''^"^^^^'  *^«  •'^^"^^^^5  P^od 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 

out  of  the  gulf  by  its  northern  outlet,  a  narrow  and  tumnltuons 
strait,  to  which,  on  account  of  its  perils,  he  gave  the  name  of  "Boca 
del  Di.-^on,"  (Mouth  of  the  Dragon).  Soon  after,  he  discovered  the 
the  islands  of  Margarita  and  Cubagua,  famous  for  their  pearls,  and 
would  doubtless  have  prosecuted  farther  his  search  for  the  Terrestrial 
Paradise,  but  for  a  painful  disease  of  the  eyes,  rendering  him  inca- 
pable of  observation.  Altering  his  course  to  the  north-west,  in  five 
days'  sailing,  he  made  the  island  of  Ilispaniola,  and  by  the  30lh  of 
August,  cnme  to  the  river  Ozema,  near  the  lately-discovered  gold 
district.  Age,  exposure,  and  constant  anxiety,  as  before,  had  done 
their  work,  and  he  came  into  port  suffering  grievously  from  a  com- 
plication of  maladies. 

During  the  absence  of  the  governor,  his  brother  Bartholomew, 
whom  he  had  left  in  command  of  the  colony,  had  displayed  great 
energy  and  judgment  in  conducting  its  affairs;  but  the  disorderly 
elements  of  which,  for  the  most  part,  it  was  composed,  had  proved 
too  turbulent  and  refractory  even  for  his  vigorous  rule.  His  admin- 
istration, indeed,  commenced  auspiciously.  He  founded  the  city  of 
St.  Domingo,  on  the  Ozema,  near  the  new  mines,  and  skilfully  ap- 
plied himself  to  developing  the  resources  of  the  country.  Tie  made 
a  visit  to  Behechio,  the  powerful  cacique  of  Xaragua,  who,  witli  his 
subjects,  received  him  with  much  kindness  and  hospitality.  These 
kindly  people  left  no  means  untried  to  cheer  and  divert  their  visitors, 
and  for  their  amusement  performed  their  national  games  and  tour- 
naments, fighting  with  such  spirit,  that  numbers  were  slain  or 
wounded.  The  cacique  readily  acknowledged  the  sovereignty  of  the 
Spanish  authorities,  and  agreed  to  pay  a  large  tribute  of  cotton  and 
other  valuable  jjroduce;  for  his  country  ailonled  no  gold.  "There 
is  something  exceedingly  atreeting  in  the  cheerful  and  gcnerous'spirit 
which  these  gentle  beings  always  evinced  towards  their  visitors,  until 
driven  into  resistance  by  oppression;  and  the  readiness  with  which 
they  yielded  their  simple  allegiance  to  the  evident  superiority  of 
this  handful  of  strangers,  proves  the  ease  with  which  their  hapi)incss 
and  the  prosperity  of  the  white  men  might  have  been  reconciled  by 
a  humane  and  considerate  policy." 

But  while  the  adelantado  wa^  absent  on  this  visit,  the  brutal  and 
rapacious  colonists  inflicted  such  oppressions  on  the  unhnppy  natives, 
(heir  serfs  and  tributaries,  that,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  great 
numbers  took  refuge  in  the  mountains,  hoping,  by  this  abandonment 
of  their  labours,  to  starve  the  oppressors  into  departure.     Considera- 


tumultnons 
ne  of  "Boca 
icovercd  the 
'  pearls,  and 
e  Terrestrial 
!g  liim  inca- 
west,  in  five 
the  30th  of 
overed  gold 
'e,  had  done 
from  a  com- 

artholomew, 
;)layed  great 
e  disorderly 
had  proved 
His  admin- 
il  the  city  of 
skilfully  np- 
'.  He  made 
'ho,  with  his 
lily.  These 
lieir  visitors, 
ics  and  tour- 
ere  slain  or 
signty  of  the 
f  cotton  and 
,ld.  "There 
nerous'spirit 
visitors,  until 
;  with  wliieh 
ipcriority  of 
3ir  hap[)incss 
'econcile<l  by 

3  brutal  and 
ippy  natives, 
itioncd,  great 
ibandoninent 
Considera- 


THE   SPANIARDS   IN   AMERICA. 

67 

b:e  distress  ensued,  and  Bartholemew,  on  his  rpfnm  a-  -a  i  . 
malcontents  among  a  chain  of  miHtary  voZ^ktoZ  Ttv\  ^^ 
and  also  removed  a  considerable  number  to  ^  ^ '  ''''^'ll^^'^^' 
difficulties  were  soon  occasioned  by  the  b  go  ed  erue^tv  clf"!"  '  '"^ 
who,  to  avenge  the  destruction  of  some  imTes  Tn  f  f  7?'''' 
virgin,  burned  alive,  after  the  merciless  cu  torn  of  their  '  '^  ,  "' a""' 
certain  of  the  subjects  of  Guarionex      Th  .V  .  °'  ''"'^  "'"^'"' 

..-  »u„.  ....„  .e  on  foot  :i.J^:j^::^Tz:;j^ 

advised  of  their  scheme,  marching  by  ste'l  h  fi  .f  •?'l'=l--"'Mo, 
i,>  the  dead  of  night,  and  carried  of  f„{,rtoe"  Ifft  „ri„  ^^  ''""*™ 
Two  of  these  were  executed  and  •  „„  TS         i     principal  caciques. 

hastened  to  submit.  Gna:;!;,:::^  iZ^:^7^: "'°  r"™' 

ries  which  he  h.id  received,  wa,,  with  „o  i.t  d  ^"''*  '"J"- 

the  victor,  and  „eacc,  for  a'time;  ^  r':t  dtTSS'""^'  "' 

It  was  much  easier,   ndeed  for  tl.o  cL.     a        "^'/^'""Cl. 
.0  overawe  and  concibate  1 11  es  Z^  "^     ?"f°™»«  •'<'P'«y 
over  the  mutinou.,  colonists,  by  Xom  heT,  '  T  "'"  """""'■'^ 

and  to  whon,  tl,e  wholesome  slric    esTof  I       Tf ''  "'  ■''  ''""''e"'"-. 
doubly  odiou.,.     One  I'rancis  !  r'Znth  "'  T'^'f  '™ 

of  a  menial  in  his  kitchen   r„I,     i         ,  ""''  f™™  "» P« 

™ised  to  the  office  „  Set  :;:?  '  'T™",'^'  f'  •*'■'!-■  '-" 
mover  of  sedition.  Byp  omi'f.,!  °',"''  '■*"«'>  "^  'I""  '''■irf 
J-ge  band  of  idlers  a  d'^Z^.C  l!;  d  TT'  '?  ™"'="'»'»''  " 
nought  the  amiable  but  feeble  d„?,t''  ''■>'  "■'"'"■  '"=  «"  "' 
bella.     ri„,ally    these  reo,„l„,       ,  "'.^'"li"'  ™"' governor  of  Is.v 

warelionsesofll    tt^    °ds  "^^  ""■,"'"■"  °''"  "■=  f»Wic 

•ook  up  their  march  S-'xlrrteT""  '"'"l"  "'"  ™"'™'^' 
with  fitting  indignation  "  tldSi  ?  ^  ^  '''"  """""■  "^  "le  <'»}', 
of  ndsehict,  robC  V^^^^^ll^T  ""'*  '"'^'^  ■"  »"  ''"■^« 
both  wyves  and  vir°ins  "    Tl      '  °       *,      "'"""■<•.)•.  ™<I  ranishing 

.0  ..og.iiatc  with  the  i  :„,.,!  ;:':;:*;  r '"=  '--"b'  -™p.i 

J  -uii  jii  cnjitiy  uu  a  bar 


'iissiug  and  desultc 


68 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF   HISTORY. 


warfare  against  the  whites.  The  indefatigable  Bartholemew,  with  a 
small  force,  made  his  way  into  their  ahnost  inaccessible  mountain 
fastnesses,  defeating  a  large  body  of  Indians,  who  opposed  him  at 
the  passage  of  a  ford,  and  who,  what  with  paint  and  the  war-whoop, 
seemed,  says  the  chronicler,  "so  many  deuills  incarnat  newly  broke 
out  of  hell."  Despite  this  misfortune,  the  highland  cacique  refused 
to  surrender  his  guest,  and  when  threatened  with  all  the  terrors  of 
fire  and  sword,  in  event  of  his  obstinacy,  replied  to  the  messenger, 
"  Tell  the  Spaniards  that  they  are  bad  men,  cruel  and  tyrannical ; 
usurpers  of  the  territory  of  others,  and  shedders  of  innocent  blood ; 
I  have  no  desire  of  the  friendship  of  such  men.  Guarionex  is  a 
good  man,  he  is  my  friend,  he  is  my  guest,  he  has  fled  to  me  for 
refuge,  I  have  promised  to  protect  him,  and  I  will  keep  my  word." 
But  after  a  long  and  harassing  warfare,  the  unfortunate  caciques, 
their  villages  destroyed  by  fire,  were  compelled  to  take  refuge  among 
the  cliffs  and  caves,  where,  worn  out  with  fatigue  and  hunger,  they 
were  finally  captured.  Their  lives  were  spared,  and  the  adelautado 
returned  to  St.  Domingo. 

There,  after  an  absence  of  two  years  and  a  half,  Columbus,  wearied 
by  toil  and  exhausted  by  illness,  had  just  arrived.  An  infinitude 
of  troubles  inunediately  beset  him.  The  vessels,  which  he  had  dis- 
patched from  the  Canaries,  touching  at  Xaragua,  had  afforded  the 
rebels,  by  means  of  artifice,  a  large  supply  of  arms  and  munitions, 
and  many  of  the  convicts  had  joined  them.  Anxious,  at  all  events, 
to  relieve  the  seltlcment  of  this  crew  of  desperadoes,  he  offered  a  free 
passage  to  Spain  to  all  who  desired  it,  and  invited  lloldan,  assuring 
him  of  safety,  to  a  personal  interview.  But  the  latter  dispatched  an 
insolent  answer;  and  so  widely  had  disaffection  spread,  that  the  gov- 
ernor, on  mustering  his  forces,  found  but  u  mere  handful  of  men 
under  his  flag.  He  was  therelbre  compelled  to  send  off"  his  ships 
without  them,  but  wrote  to  the  court,  detailing  his  discoveries,  send- 
ing specimens  of  gold  and  pearls,  and  entreating  assistance  and 
countenance.  The  rebels  also  forwarded  a  statement  of  their  own, 
which,  backed  by  men  of  influence,  was  highly  injurious  to  his 
interests  at  court. 


lew,  with  a 
e  mountain 
sed  him  at 
war-whoop, 
evvly  broke 
jue  refused 
)  terrors  of 

messenger, 
tyrannical ; 
cent  blood; 
rionex  is  a 
[  to  me  for 

my  word." 
te  caciques, 
fuge  among 
unger,  they 

adelautado 

)us,  wearied 
1  infinitude 
be  had  dis- 
.fforded  the 

munitions, 
;  all  events, 
tiered  a  free 
m,  assuring 
jpatclicd  an 
lat  the  gov- 
iful  of  men 
fl"  his  ships 
'eries,  send- 
stauce  and 

their  own, 
lous  to  his 


THE  SPANIARDS  IN   AMERICA. 


69 


CHAPTEH   ?in. 

TRIUMPH  OP  THE  REBEIS—COLUMBUS  RUINED   AT   COURT 
APPOINTMENT  OF  DOB  ADILL  A.-H IS  INSO I.LNCE  -rnr  nu" 
BUS  SENT    TO    SPAIN    IN    CII  AINS.-SENSA  Ti    'n  7p    TH, 
NATION.-VERBAL   ODRESS.-APPOINTMENT  OF  OVAN 
DO.-FOURTH   AND   LAST   VOYAGE  OF   COLUMBU      TO 

T.  ™r;r  V"^^^"^^  -  HIS  ENEM   .r 
niti  CRUISE  ON  THE  CO\STS   OP 
HONDURAS,    COSTA    RICA,     ETC-SEVR    H 
FOR  A  STRAIT.-HIS  DISAPPOINTMENT 

Prejudiced  by  the  representations  of  his  enemies  th^  e. 
hesitated  to  confirm  the  authoritv  of  ,,f'f '"'"''"'' *«  sovereigns 

insurgent  faction;  and  he  was  ac2d  ^  jTom'pXdTo  ^  "^ 
with  the  rebels  on  terms  chshonourablel^rX  ^1  tt?"" 
which  he  represented.     Eoldan  wis  r^in^fofi       .  ^''''^'' 

and  he  and  his  followers  to  quictTeir  Z  .  '"  •'  ^"''  "^  "^^"^^«' 
of  land,  of  Indian  ZesZo^el  7  .''  ''T""^  '''^'  ^"'-^"^ 
lumbns'would  now  h^Je'e  Ld t  ZTl  '  I  T"''^"-  ^«- 
.gl.s  a.,  ,,e.sts,  but  for  a  veilL^:::;^^::  Z^'l^!^ 
iresh  infringement      Alon^n  f^«  n;„  i     i-    r  '"'^'"o  irom  their 

hira  went  ArnerHro  Vesnucci   xvhr,  K,.  „  ^      i  i       ""ecuon.     With 

the  true  discoverer  tho  o-lnrv  nf  r,^r.c     ■  witbimgirom 

--inent.     This  e^l^:^,^;^f:^\^^^^^ 
the  charts  of  Columbus,  had  constod  along    he'  IhlLZl    \l 
America,  and  liad  discovered  the  Gulf  of  Vene.^h     T   1 

governor  <I.pa,ol,e<l  ngai„«t  tl,o  intruder,  eLpelled  2  t„Z   L 

ILrdly  „.a,  ,I,i,  vexatious  aPTair  ,,i.„o.eJ  of.  ,vl,e„  a  „o,v  couspir- 


70 


THE  I'KOPLK'S   BOOK   OF   lIISTUIiY. 


acy  of  tlie  colonists,  headed  by  one  Adrian  de  Moxica,  broke  out. 
Columbus,  with  a  few  attendants,  hastened  to  the  scene,  and,  coin- 
ing on  the  insurgents  by  night,  seized  the  persons  of  the  ringleaders. 
Moxica  w;xs  ordered  to  be  hanged  on  the  summit  of  Fort  Concepeion. 
Hoping,  perhaps,  to  save  his  own  life,  he  accused  some  innocent  per- 
sons; on  which  the  governor,  in  one  of  his  rare  but  uncontrollable 
fits  of  anger,  commanded  him  to  be  flung  headlong  from  the  battle- 
ments. The  whole  revolt  was  repressed  with  the  utmost  sternness 
and  promptitude,  and  Columbus,  a  part  of  the  insurgents  crushed,  and 
the  rest  conciliated,  began  to  hope  for  an  opportunity  to  establish 
the  government  on  a  more  stable  footing. 

But  numerous  ami  powerful  enemies,  j)ossessing  the  ear  of  the 
court,  wore  continually  undermining  his  reputation;  and  troops  of 
discontented  vagabonds,  shipped  from  the  colony,  surrounded  the 
palace,  and  mnoyed  its  inmates  by  their  clamours  for  pay,  for  reilress, 
or  for  charity.  By  his  pertinacity  in  enforcing  the  serfdom  of  the 
natives,  he  had  alienated  the  favour  of  Isabella,  who  now  ceased  to 
protect  his  interests;  and  the  jealous  Ferdinand,  long  anxious  for  a 
pretext  to  resume  the  high  dignities  which  he  had  unwarily  granted, 
soon  found  the  means  to  effect  his  purposes.  Columbus  had  requested 
that  a  judge  and  an  umpire,  learned  in  the  law,  for  the  purpose  of 
settling  disputes,  might  be  sent  to  the  island;  and  the  king,  taking 
advantage  of  this  suggestion,  appointed  one  Francisco  Bobadilla,  a 
man  of  a  passionate  and  vainglorious  temper,  to  this  office,  provid- 
ing hiin  with  a  secret  letter,  to  be  produced  if  the  culpability  of 
Columbus  should  be  proved,  and  conferring  on  him  the  supreme 
authority  in  the  island. 

On  the  23d  of  August,  loOO,  he  arrived  at  the  port  of  St.  Dimingo, 
where,  to  his  horror  and  indignation,  he  beheld  the  body  of  a  Span- 
iard hanging  to  a  gibbet  on  either  bank  of  the  river,  being  those  of 
certain  insurgents,  executed  by  order  of  the  governor.  Many  others 
were  in  prison,  and  on  his  entrance  into  the  town,  he  demanded  of 
Diego  Columbus,  then  in  command,  that  they  should  be  delivered 
over  to  himself.  The  latter  refusing,  he  proceeded  to  church,  where, 
with  prodigious  pomposity,  he  read  the  secret  missive  of  the  sover- 
eigns, and  then,  with  a  huge  array  of  malcontents  and  loiterers,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  prison.  Though  no  opposition  was  made,  the  doughty 
knight,  provided  with  scaling-ladders  and  battering  inii)lemeiits, 
made  a  ridiculous  show  of  taking  it  by  storm,  and  made  seizure  of 
the  prisoners  with  great  assumption  of  importance,     lla  then  took 


broke  out. 
aiul,  cuiii- 
ingleadors. 
oncepcioii. 
loceut  })or- 
jutiulliiblo 
the  buttle- 
,  sternness 
uslied,  and 
0  establish 


THE  SPANIARDS  IN   AMKItlOA. 


71 


possession  of  tlie  house  of  the  absent  governor,  and  seized  on  all 
his  property;  "and,  in  short,  conducted  himself  with  all  the  insolence 
and  rai)acity  which  might  be  exijccted  from  a  man  of  his  character, 
whose  elevation  to  office  was  dependent  on  his  assertion  of  the  guilt 
of  his  predecessor." 

Columbus,  on  liearing  of  the  arrival  of  Bobadilla,  and  of  certain 
rash  edicts,  which,  to  secure  i)opularity,  the  latter  had  issued,  wrote 
a  letter  of  caution  to  him,  supposing  that  he  was  imprudently  ex- 
ceeding his  powers.     The  intruder,  in  reply,  asserted  the  authority 
he  had  received,  and  i)eremptorily  ordered  the  deposed  governor 
to  appear  before  him.     Travelling  in  a  lonely  manner,  stun-  to  the 
heart  by  the  ingratitude  of  his  patrons,  the  injured  admiral  obeyed- 
and  on  his  arrival,  the  vile  usurper  of  his  rights,  mindless  of  his 
ago,  his  dignity,  and  his  great  name,  ordered  him  to  be  ironed  like  a 
common  felon.     This  outrage  he  endured  with  the  calmness  of  a 
mind  steeled  by  interior  grief  against  any  mere  external  manifesta- 
tion of  wrong.     No  word  of  impatience  or  resentment  escaped  him 
"Columbus,"  says  his  biograi)her,  "could  not  stoop  to  deprecate  the 
arrogance  of  a  weak  and  violent  man  like  Bobadilla.     He  looked 
beyond  this  shallow  agent  and  all  his  petty  tyranny  to  the  sov- 
ereigns  who   employed    him.      It    was   their   injustice    and   their 
ingratitude  alone  that  could  wound  his  spirit;  and  he  felt  assured 
that  when  the  truth  came  to  be  known,  they  would  blush  to  find 
how  greatly  they  had  wronged   him."      His   brothers  were   also 
arrested,  and   all  were   separately  confined  on  board  of  different 
vessels,  ignorant  of  the  charges  against  them,  while  every  species 
of  slanderous  complaint  and  corrupt  evidence,  afforded  by  such  as 
had  felt  the  strictness  of  his  rule,  was  greedily  received  by  the 
new  governor.  '' 

In  October,  1500,  manacled  like  the  vilest  of  culprits,  the  most 

faithful  and  eminent  servant  of  the  Spanish  crown  was  sent  home 

from  the  island  which  he  had  discovered  and  the  city  he  had  founded 

riie  vessel  once  out  at  sea,  the  commander,  a  man  of  honour  a.id 

feeling,  would  have  taken  off  his  irons;  but  the  admiral  refused  to 

allow  him      "Their  majesties,"  he  said,  with  sternness  and  gravity 

commanded  me  by  letter  to  submit  to  wliatever  Bobadilla  should 

order  in  the.r  name;  by  their  authority  he  has  put  upon  me  theie 

chains;  I  will  wear  them  until  they  shall  order  them  to  be  taken  off 

and  I  will  preserve  them  afterwards  as  relics  and  memorials  of  the 

reward  of  my  services."    It  is  said  that  afterwards  they  were  al  wavs 


72 


THE   PKOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  II18T0KY. 


seen  hanging  in  his  cahinct;  and  ho  charged  that  when  Ik^  died  they 
should  bo  buried  witli  him  in  the  grave.* 

The  vessel  came  into  Cadiz,  and  these  disgraceful  fliots  were  soon 
uiiiveiraDy  known.  The  nation  was  shocked  and  indignant,  and  the 
rf.iiif,  eager  to  rcsoue  itself  from  obloquy,  wrote  to  Columbus  at 
once,  deploring  the  unhappy  results  of  their  mission  (which,  indeed, 
they  had  not  anticipated),  and  inviting  him  honourably  to  court! 
Accordingly,  he  appeared,  with  much  state  and  dignity,  before  the 
sovereigns  at  Granada,  and  was  received  with  the  highest  consider- 
ation. Isabella  wi"  looved  to  tears,  and  on  beholding  them,  h  s  own 
fortitude,  which  unshaken  had  withstood  such  rude  assaults,  gave 
way,  and  he  fell  on  his  knee  before  her,  speechless  from  weeping 
and  emotion.  Eecovering  himself,  he  entered  on  an  eloquent  vindi- 
cation of  his  character,  and  the  justice  of  his  administration.  He 
had  already  written  to  a  friend  at  court,  defending  his  past  career 
and  exposing  the  injustice  of  his  treatment:  "I  have  been  much 
aggrieved,"  i)rocceds  this  forcible  document,  "that  a  person  should 
be  sent  out  to  investigate  my  conduct,  who  knew  that  if  the  inquest 
sent  home  should  bo  of  a  grave  nature,  he  would  remain  in  the  gov- 
ernment.       ****#!  j^^yg  i^ggjj  jjj^iggj  ^^g  ^ 

governor  who  had  been  sent  to  take  charge  of  a  well-regulated  city, 
under  the  dominion  of  long-t'stablisho-l  laws,  where  there  was  no 
danger  of  every  thing  running  to  disorder  and  ruin ;  but  I  ought  to 
be  judged  as  a  captain,  sent  to  subdue  a  numerous  and  hostile  peo- 
ple, of  manners  and  religion  opposite  to  ours,  living,  not  in  regular 
towns,  but  in  forests  and  mountains.  It  ought  to  be  considered  tiuxt 
I  have  brought  all  these  under  subjection  to  their  mnjestios,  giv'mcf 
them  dominion  over  another  world,  by  which  Spain,  heretofore  poor^ 
has  suddenly  bec(^ine  rich.  Whatever  errors  I  may  have  fallen  into,' 
they  were  not  witli  an  evil  intention." 
This  forcible  appeal  was  not  without  effect  on  the  minds  of  the 

*  In  a  letter  to  tho  sovereigns,  considered  authentic,  written  from  tlie  scene  of  his 
bbipurcek  in  Jamaica,  he  assifeas  a  singular  reason  for  tliis  resolve.  "Alas!"  ho 
e.\ci;miis,  "piety  and  justice  ha^...  retired  to  their  habitations  above,  and  it  is  a  crime 
tohuve  iindcrtikenaiid  perfoiiiu'dtoomuc  1.  *  *  *  O  blessed  mother 
of  God,  that  oomnnssionatos  the  miserable  and  oppressed,  why  did  not  cruel  Roba- 
dilla  kill  me  when  he  robbed  me  and  my  brother  of  our  dearly-purchased  gold,  and 
sent  us  to  Spain  in  chains  without  trial,  crime,  or  shadow  of  misconduct?  These 
chams  are  all  ihe  treasures  I  have,  and  they  shall  be  buried  with  me,  if  I  dunce  to 
have  a  cofTin  or  gnwe;  for  I  tcouhl  have  the  remembrance  of  so  unjust  an  action  perish 
with  me,  and  fur  the  glory  of  the  Sjianish  name,  be  eternally  forgotten." 


("  died  they 

i  were  soon 
mt,  and  the 
aluiubus  at 
ell,  indeed, 
y  to  eourt. 
before  tlie 
t  corisider- 
m,  li  s  own 
lults,  gave 
m  weeping 
uent  vindi- 
ation.     ilo 
last  eareer 
)een  much 
ion  should 
he  inquest 
in  til e  gov- 
idged  as  a 
ilated  city, 
re  was  no 
I  ought  to 
ostile  peo- 
in  regular 
dered  tliat 
les,  giving 
ifore  ])oor, 
iillen  into, 

ids  of  the 

scene  of  iiia 
"Alas!"  he 
it  is  a  Clime 
ssi'd  mother 
cruel  Roba- 
li  gold,  and 
let?  These 
I  cliaiice  to 
iction  jterish 


THE  SPANIARDS  IN  AMEKIOA. 


73 

.«,,,e,.  JO  Co,,™,™,.    B„.  .Hi,  cn',4:™::  iU%*:  r,  :  f 

luind,  at  least,  never  intended  to  fulfil.  ^  '  ' 

Ti>e  value  of  his  discoveries,  and  the  immense  powers  which  their 
rule  conferred  on  him,  were  becoming  every  d'w  morJ 
Private  expeditions,  dispatched  in  inf^ngem^t'^  ^  i^^'Tla 
demonstrated  the  existence  of  immense  territories  lying  in  the  west 
ern  ocean.    Nnio,  one  of  his  pilo^  in  1499,  sailing  in  a  small    Lnv    ' 
had  voyaged  along  much  of  the  northern  coast  of  Sout  lA    ""  ' 
and  had  brought  home  a  rich  treasure  of  pearls  and  gold      V  'en  e 
1  ni.on,  in  January  of  the  following  year,  had  crossed  the  "line  m  de 
further  surveys,   and    had   discovered    the  mic^htv  river  A 
Sebastian  Cabot,  in  his  voyage  of  1497,  had  :sc  lirU  eT^-  t 
onc(>  of  an  extensive  continent  at  the  north-   and  the  P    ? 

,'":^:;;  s  ■!  ^";r;r  -^ "-  -"-";  -T'  ^^^'^^ 

m  wu  1  MTA/Al     All  these  regions,  and  those  discovered  bv  Pnlnn, 
bus  h„„.el,;  .ere,  however,  still  roga,,le,l  as  ponio  s      'L    ^t 

He  promised  the  admiral  that  if  ho  would  wait  f„r  , 
""''1  the  troubles  of  the  colony  should  be  nuird  bv  ,n        'T"' 
acceptable  to  all,  he  should,  at  the  end  of  tha       1^    Tn  "^'"'^ 
stated  n  all  his  powers  and  dignities.    AVi  h   h  s  S;  n,,       ''  '"" 
Columbus  was  compelled  to  ap^ar  satisfied     n    N^e  :     '1^^^^^^ 
a  man  of  agreeable  manners  and  of  some  ab  litv   b ,  f  '^"' 

n"d  cruel  in  the  evtr.Mno  ,  f      •^'    "^  "''^''^"'  ^'^P'leious, 

O'^'-dy,  by  soi:mn  irt^  hzt:  c^''^^''^'"^  ^^--^^'-i 

and  islands  discovered  Iv^n  ,      Columbus)  over  all  lands 

was  trusted  t    it  Til  ;L5  "       '"i  ^'''?  ^"  ''''  ^'^^  ^^'°^'^1-     ^t 
-ry  outfit  whi         ,  '1^^^^^'^  -^'-'•'^>'.  -J  the  extraordi- 

;^-ed  V  the  mal-adSlTLn^  t  SfCl^'^^r'^^V'^^- 
hnt  unprincipled  rule  the  H,.pnt,-.       ^^o'^adiiJa,  under  whose  brief 

ous  excesses,  and  ex  rcil  d  Z         ^        ""'"''  ^'''^  i''""='-^^^  ''^  -^-- 

-tives.  On  the  ^x^  5:::::'^jf ""If  ;r"'  '^^  """"^^'^'^ 

t^venty-five  hundred  person     "'f;  of'  T  "'''  ''^""^''"^ 

tinction,  and  bearing^he  "C  of  n  i""  "' '''''^'  "^'^  '^^^■ 

t^Uure  day,  to  be  the  ntin^f;;:"!^^^^  f-'o^,  (destined,  at  . 


74 


T;iK   I'iiOl'LK'S    IJOOK   Of   HISTORY. 


Ill  u  U-niblo  stoini,  which  aroao  just  after  his  doimrturc,  oiio  of 
Ilia  sliijjrf,  with  nu  huii(h'oil  nnd  twenty  souls,  was  swullowod  up. 
'i'lio  shores  of  Spain  wero  strowod  with  artirles  thrown  overboard 
by  the  rest;  and  tlio  sovoreigiis,  in  anguish  at  tlic  supposed  loss  of 
the  expedition,  shut  themselves  up  for  niuny  days,  incapable  of  con- 
solation. But  the  remainder  of  the  fleet,  reassembling  at  the  Cana- 
ries, held  on  their  course,  and  in  the  month  of  April,  arrived  at 
St.  Domingo. 

The  restless  spirit  of  Columbus,  defrauded,  for  a  time,  of  its  con- 
genial career,  endeavoured  vainly  to  engage  his  j)atrons  in  a  crusade 
for  the  rescue  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre;  and  failing  in  this,  turned  to  a 
scheme  more  honourable,  useful,  and  suitable  to  his  genius — a  scheme 
for  fresh   and   brilliant  disccjvery.      The  J'ortuguese,  after  many 
futile  attempts,  had  at  last  succeeded  in  reaching  Indii  by  doubling' 
Africa,  and  the  value  and  importance  of  the  newly-opened  chamicl 
of  trade,  excited  emulation  in  all  rival  maritime  nations,     'j'he  ailini- 
ral  by  this  time,  had  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  South  America 
was  a  main-land  by  itself,  lying  oif  the  shores  of  Asia,  much  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  insular  continent  of  Australia  does  in  realitv. 
Cuba  he  still  ilrmly  held  to  be  a  portion  of  the  great  Eastern  Con- 
tinent; and  the  impetuous  current  which  flows  betrt-cen  them,  could 
issue,  he  considered,  from  no  other  source  than  the  Indian  Sea,  which 
dischai-ged  its  waters  into  the  Atlantic  by  a  strait  somewhere  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  isthmus  of  Darieii. 
This  strait,  opening,  as  he  supposed,  a  direct  communication  with 
the  golden  shores  of  the  Orient,  lie  proposed  to  discover  and  ex{)lore; 
and  the  sovereigns,  the  i)recedent  for  infringing  his  grants  now  fully 
established,  willingly  lent  their  countenance  to  a  j)roject  for  extend- 
ing their  d(nninions  and  increasing  their  wealth,  conducti.'d  by  a  iium 
whom  experience  had  shown  them  to  be,  of  all  others,  most  fitted 
to  the  undertaking,      lie  was  accordingly  permitted  to  lit  out  an 
expedition,  and  take  with  him  his  son  Fernando  and  his  brother 
Bartholomew ;  and  interpreters,  learned  in  Arabic,  were  provided  to 
assist  in  his  expected  negotiations  with  the  Khan.    But  the  intrigues 
of  his  enemies,  and  especially  of  Fonscca,  as  usual,  greatly  retarded 
his  preparations;  and  it  was  not  until  the  9th  of  May,  1002,  that,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six,  with  a  frame  broken  by  hardshij)  and  exposure, 
and  a  mind  de])ressed  by  ingratitude  and  persecution,  he  set  sail  from 
Cadiz,  on  the  last  of  his  voyages  of  discovery. 

Four  small  caravels  and  -  i  hundred  and  fifty  men  composed  his 


rturo,  Olio  of 
tvul  lowed  up. 
ru  overboard 
[)oscd  l().«a  of 
[jublc  of  coii- 
at  the  Ciinu- 
1,  arrived  at 

c,  of  its  con- 
in  a  crnsndo 
i,  turned  to  a 
IS — a  sclionio 
after  many 
by  doubling 
ined  channel 
The  iidtiii- 
uth  Aiiieiicu 
much  in  the 
es  in  reality. 
Eastern  Con- 
tlicm,  could 
u  Sea,  which 
imewhere  in 
IS  of  Darien. 
licatioii  with 
ind  exj)lore; 
ts  now  fully 
;  for  extend- 
L'd  by  a  man' 
most  fitted 
J  (it  out  an 
his  brother 
provided  to 
he  intrigues 
tly  retarded 
u02,  that,  at 
d  exp(«urc, 
set  sail  from    j 

mposcd  Ilia    j 


THK  SPANIARDS   IN   AMEKIOA.  yg 

command     On  the  2oth  he  left  the  CanaricH,  and  after  touching  at 
the  Caribbee  IS  ands,  arnvcd  at  St.  Domingo,  where  ho  trusted  to 
re,,  ace  ono  o    his  vessels,  which  was  nearly  unfit  for  use.     IhU  the 
jealous  Ovando,  dreading  his  j.resenco,  and  fnhiUing  the  selfish  cui- 
nmn.ls  of  the  sovereigns,  ordered  him  out  of  the  harbour.     On  this 
Columbus,  whose  maritime  experience  foretold  the  at,„roaeh  of  a 
jurncane  entreated  the  governor  at  least  to  ,lclay  the  sailin-r  cf  the 
fleet  which  was  ready  to  return  to  Spain.    His  warning  was  unhecdc.l 
.•uul  he  hastened  to  take  refuge  in  some  lonely  harbour  of  the  coast' 
Ihe  f  eet  .saile.l,  and  a    earful  tempest  arose,  in  which  many  of  the 
vessds  were  lost,  mcludnig  the  principal  ship,  i„  which  were  Iluldan 
and  Bobadilla,  with  the  captive  Guarionex,  and  a  great  amount  of 
treasure,  extorted  fr-  m  the  sufferings  of  the  Indians.     Only  one  ves- 
.sel  was  able  to  continue  the  voyage  to  Spain 

Narrowly  escaj.ing  shipwreck,  the  admiral,  in  July,  resumed  his 
tIJSonhlf '^rT""';?'-  ^"'  «'--«  -"th-west,  on 

;..ichhadprobaUy:Lj^:;'t-:;-^--^^^^ 

a  loutc,  which,  ,f  followed,  would  soon  have  led  him  to  the  we-dthy 
Fovmces  lying  westward  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Eager  how  vf 
to  discoyer  the  supposed  strait,  he  passed  over  to  the  continenT  a  i 
doubling  Cape  Honduras,  stood  eastward  along  the  eoa  t  eeli 
from  the  natives  much  kindness  and  hospitality.  For  t'ty  1  '  ? 
succession  of  storms  and  hearl-wi,,,!.  ...     i    i    i  ^     '•>'*  '* 

strug.din.r  to  the  e.st   ol    t  ''^  '^'^  squadron,  slowly 

ouuf^^un^  lo  ine  east,  and  U  was  not  until  tho  l-ttl,  ,.p  g  \     i 

.l.at  I.  ,.„„„Jc<l  C„„o  Gracias  a  Dies  (so  .  .  c7i„  g    .  t„l'tti:: 

Eiverof  Di«.,        "     V      ',     ^"''^'   '^''^^'"^  ^^'I'at  he  called  "The 

S:  :iui :  I;  ,:,;::;:';,;:"■  °'  "-'-'"r- "-"--'  "^ ""'- 

at  .Lis  place  .^^tJl  ulT"  """™"''"  "■''"'  "'°  '"'"'"'' 
tl».  i,-,ii,,,..„.      ""<-""P'<-'l  Ijy  tlio  superslition  of  bolli  parlies— 

baneful  efleet  of  l.is  ineautations  aLtrl^^^r  ,  tZ  rto 


76 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


supposed  themselves  bewitched,  and  attributed  all  their  ill  luck  and 
the  storms  they  had  encountered  to  some  Indian  enchantment.  Co- 
lumbus, in  his  dispatches,  describes  the  people  of  this  place  (Cariari) 
as  great  enchanters,  and  particularly  states  that  two  girls,  who  came 
aboard  his  shij),  had  a  magic  powder  concealed  about  their  persons. 
This  strange  bit  of  prejudice  was  not  confined  to  the  age  or  the  nation 
of  Columbus  and  his  people.  A  century  later,  we  find  honest  John 
Davis,  voynging  among  the  Esquimaux,  thanking  God  that  no  harm 
had  come  of  their  diabolical  spells;  and  later  still,  a  similar  appre- 
hension prevailed  among  the  settlers  of  New  England. 

Following  the  shore  of  Costa  Eica,  early  in  October,  Columbus 
anchored  in  the  great  bay  of  Carnabaco,  which  he  entered  by  a 
channel  still  called  "Boca  del  Almirante,"  (Mouth  of  the  Admiral). 
Abundance  of  gold,  much  of  it  in  large  plates,  was  found  among 
the  natives,  and  was  readily  yielded  by  them  in  exchange  for  Eu- 
ropean trifles.  His  people  would  gladly  have  remained  to  pursue 
this  lucrative  trafiic,  but  the  commander,  intent  on  his  projected  dis- 
covery, kei)t  on,  sailing  along  the  coast  of  Veragua,  and  finding  gold 
plentiful,  wherever  he  landed.  Encouraged  by  the  delusive  and 
misunderstood  reports  of  the  Indians,  he  now  fancied  that  he  was 
on  the  long-eluding  track  to  Asian  civilization.  ,  A  kingdom  to  the 
westward  which  they  described  in  glowing  terms,  was  probably  the 
distant  emjiire  of  Peru;  but  Columbus,  who,  for  a  man  so  practical, 
had  certainly  the  greatest  imagination  of  his  time,  understood  them 
as  specifying  fleets,  cavalry,  and  artillery,  and  confirming  his  faith 
in  tlie  vicinity  of  the  Ganges  and  the  everlasting  Khan.  On  the  2d 
of  November,  he  came  to  anchor  in  that  beautiful  harbour  on  which 
he  bestowed  the  name  of  Porto  Bello.  8oon  after,  he  made  Capo 
Noinbre  de  Dios,  where  reverse  winds  and  tempestuous  weather 
again  forbade  his  advance.  The  crews  were  worn  out  with  contending 
against  continual  storm?,  and  the  ships  were  so  leaky,  from  the  rav- 
ages of  worms,  that  it  seemed  impossible  to  keep  tliem  afloat  much 
longer.  lie  felt  compelled  therefore,  for  the  time,  to  relinquish  tlie 
hope  of  effecting  that  grand  discovery  which  should  revive  his  fixme 
and  tlnow  a  halo  around  his  old  age  and  declining  fortunes.  Tlie 
prows  were  turned  for  the  golden  shores  of  Veragua,  and  thus,  in 
the  elegant  language  of  Mr.  Irving,  "ended  the  l'>fty  anticipations 
which  had  elevated  Columbus  above  all  personal  interests;  which 
had  made  liim  regardless  of  hardships  and  perils;  and  had  given  a 
heroic,  character  to  the  early  part  of  his  voyage.     It  is  true  he  had 


THE  SPANIARDS  IN  AMJiKlOA. 


77 


been  ,n  pursuit  of  a  mere  chimera,  but  it  was  the  chimera  of  a 
splendid  imagination  and  a  penetrating  judgment.    If  he  was  disap- 
pointed  in  his  expectation  of  finding  a  strait  through  the  isthmus  of 
Danen,  it  was  because  nature  herself  had  been  disappointed-  fo 
she  appears  to  have  attempted  to  make  one,  but  to  have  attempted 


CHAPTER   II. 


riSASTROUS  ATTEMPT  TO  POC^D  A  SETTLEONT.-HOSTI,  ITIES 

WITH  THE  INDIANS.-THE  VESSELS  EINALLY  STIIaTded  4 

THE  ISLAND  OP  -- A  M  A  IC  A.-EX  T  lU  OO I N  A  RyTe  yjc  p  OF 

ol\V^\7''\T'  ''  ''''  ^OLLOWERS.-T.EACHE  .    ' 

OF  0;aND0.— RESCUE  OP  THE  C  R  EWS,  — A  TROCITI  E3 

COM.VITTED  ON  THE  NATIVES  OF  HA YTI.-RZTURN 

OF   COLUMRUS   TO  SPAIN.-HIS   TREATMENT  - 

HIS  DEATH.  — DISPOSAL  OF  HIS  REMAINs'. 

Involved  in  fresh  tempests,  the  sea-worn  squadron  laboured  back 
and  in  January,  1503,  arrived  near  the  river  of  Veragua      S 
gold  was  colh-cted  from  the  natives,  and  Bartho]omew,°with  s^^ty 
e.ght  men,  explored  the  country,  whieli  he  reported  ti  be  rich    n 
the  piteous  me^l.     In  this  inviting  region,  which  he  supp  To 

he  the  Auroa  Chcrsoncsus  of  the  ancients,  Columbus  resolved  o 
found  a  se  tlement.  The  erection  of  a  f  ,rtress  and  of  dwel  i Zl  ^ 
commenced  with  mucli  energy,  and  eighty  of  the  con.pa  ^^  w  ^ 
selec  e.l  as  colonists.  This  j.omising  .scheme,  howev  r  by  ,1  e 
onnnty  of  the  natives,  was  presently  disconcerted,  with  n  uch  lo 
and  embarrassment. 

Quil>ia,  the  cacique  of  the  country,  a  brave,  fierce,  and  powerful 
dneftam,     ad  .t  first  treated  the  intrn.lers  wi;h  civ  litv,  exZn 
then-  speedy  departure.     But  on  seeing  these  vrcmv.fd.  ^^-MHUing 

;r':--''^>'^«''"'-;i"^'i-orritorieM.rXSr  ::,    i^^^ 

gh  once  captured  and  twice  defeated,  sueceede.l  in  killi  ^  1 
of  the  Spaniards,  and  hokling  the  remain.ler  of  the  settleme.rt  for 
nuK.  .lays  in  a  state  of  alarming  siege  and  <listress-tlie  t  m  lot 
weather,  durnig  that  time,  preventing  the  admiral  from  land'^f     h 


78 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


reinforcements.     The  remainder  of  the  colony,  with  much  dan^rer 
and  difficulty,  was  finally  reembarked,  and  Columbus,  leaving  one 
of  his  caravels  rotting  in  the  river,  put  to  sea  with  the  others  and 
made  his  way  to  Porto  Bello.     There  another,  riddled  by  the  worms 
was  abandoned,  and  with  the  crews  crowded  into  the  two  remaining 
vessels    now  little  better  than  wrecks,  he  steered  for  Ilispaniohr 
After  long  tossing  about  in  renewed  tempests,  finding  that  they  could 
not  be  kept  afloat  much  longer,  he  ran  for  the  nearest  land,  and  on 
the  2-ith  of  June  made  a  harbour  of  Jamaica,  still  called  "Don  Chris- 
topher's Cove."     He  ran  the  vessels  aground,  and  they  soon  filled 
with  water  to  the  decks.     Houses  were  built  upon  them  as  a  shelter 
for  the  crews,  and  a  defence  against  attack,  and  the  nei-hbourin- 
caciques  were  induced  to  promise  a  regular  supply  of  provisions     ° 
To  escape,  indeed,  from  this  solitarv  isle  of  the  sea,  lyinc.  flxr  from 
the  track  even  of  the  few  and  unfrequent  voyages  to  Hispaniola, 
seemed  almost  an  hopeless  undertaking.     But  one  Diego  Mendez  a 
notary,  who,  by  his  courage  and  policy,  had  already  rendered  the 
most  important  services  to  the  expedition,  now  volunteered  on  the 
desperate  enterprise  of  gaining  the  port  of  St.   Domingo.     In  -ir 
Indian  canoe,  manned  by  six  natives,  he  boldly  set  forth,  to  cross 
forty  leagues  of  sea,  perilous  from  furious  currents;  and  although 
coasting  along  the  shore,  he  was  taken  prisoner  bv  the  Indians  con- 
trived to  effect  his  escape,  regained  the  ships,  and  with  one  Fiesco 
a  Genoese,  with  two  canoes,  again  set  forth  on  his  adventurous 
undertaking.     In  a  letter,  which,  by  this  precarious  conveyance 
Coliimbue  dispatched  to  the  sovereigns,  he  enthusiasticallv  proffered 
his  services  as  a  missionary  in  converting  the  Grand  Klian,  whom 
in  his  next  voyage,  he  confidently  expected  to  find-then  bv  a  sud- 
d.a  revulsion  of  feeling,  awaking  to  the  forlorn  reality  of  I'lis  con- 
dition, he  exclaims,  "Until  now,  I  have  wept  for  others;  have  pity 
i'|"|n  n.e,  Heaven,  and  weep  for  me,  earth !    In  my  temporal  coneen,. 
^^.tl.u,lt  a  farthing  to  give  in  offering;   in  s,)iritual  concerns,  cast 
nway  here  in  the  Indies;  isolated  in  my  misery,  infirm,  expectii... 
each  .lay  will  be  my  last;  surrounded  oy  cruel  savages,  separated 
from  the  holy  sacraments  of  the  church,  so  that  my  soul  will  be  lost 
If  separated  here  from  my  body.         *         *        if  it  should  please 
God  to  deliver  me  from  h^nce,  I  humbly  supplicate  your  ma  .  slios 
to  permit  me  to  repair  to  i?orne,  and  perform  other  pil-n-ima^/e.  " 

Many  inontlis  passed  by,  and  no  succour  came,  nor  any^tidings 
of  the  fate  of  his  dauntless  messengers.     A  mutiny,  headcul  by  one 


THE  SPANIARDS   IN   AMERICA. 


79 


Francisco  Torras  sprung  up.  which  the  admiral,  enfeebled  by  old 

age  and  crippled  by  the  gout,  was  unable  to  suppress.     In  January 
o04,  the  nialcontents,  forty-eight  in  number,  seized  canoes,  and  pj; 
0  sea;  bu   a  storrn  commg  up,  put  back  to  Jamaica,  having  mu 

dered  eighteen  Induans  whom  they  had  taken  as  rowers,  by  dJZ. 

t.em  ov-erboard.     They  then  commenced  a  system  of  plunder  and 

flopredation  among  the  native  villages  ^ 

The  Jamaicans,  provoked  at  these  outrages,  and,  by  decrees  sati 

atcd  with  European  traffic,  now  discontinu^ed^hei/supp,  ef  andte 
large  body  of  men  still  under  command  of  Columbus  vas  threatened 
wiJi  the  horrors  of  starvntinn      Ti^^  „,       •  •        '">' ''"^t-utiiea 

hv  -1  most  .nhtU  T  ^  cunning  genius  of  their  leader, 

h  a  most  subtle  device,  rescued  them  from  the  anticipated  evil 
Kno  ying,  from  his  observations,  that  an  eclipse  of  the  moon  would 
speedily  occur,  he  announced  to  the  cacioues  in  .  ,rv.^A  -7  , 

the  God  of  the  Spaniards,  enraged  at  tSrtr  ^l" ^i^  If 
pers,  intended  to  visit  their  island  with  pestilence-in  token  v     r  o 

he  moon,  that  very  mght,  would  grow  dim,  and  leave  her  ^ce  in 
the  heavens.     At  first  they  scoffed  at  the  ominous  intelligence  b 
as  night  drew  on,  watched  witn  some  anxiety  for  the  predict!    «;' 

uas    cized  with  frantic  and  uncontrollable  terror.     The  island  re- 

Ins  cabin,  and  reapnoarino-  ..ftp^  „  .1        .  •  ,    '        '^^"rea  to 

♦1   f  1  •        •.       ^"l'l'<-a'iiife,  alter  a  decent  im^uva ,  informed  tho.n 
tiiat  his  suit  was  cranted    •md  +l,nf  «i  >     '^uinitru  lucm 

*      J  .    1         ,  «=  ''"'^'^''  '""^  that  the  moon  would  nrescntiv  h^ 
restored  to  her  p  ace  in  the  lu>avpr,«      it        -  presently  be 

Light  months  having  elap.sed  since  the  departure  of  Mender  nnd 
Iicsco,  It  was  suppo.sed,  cf  course,  that  their  slender  b.ri  s  1^1  h  n 
swallowed  uri  in  the  ocenn      'Pl.^,.  i     i  ,    ,  ^    ^^^ " 

after  a  voyal  of  4  irfZ'^ffi     '  "«y«rtheless  succeeded,  and 

promised,  mi^ht  nfrisli  ,-' ^.r..,..  i  ,  ''^'-*  ^'^^^ 

o"'"to,  in  ji-pison,  to  the  asswtance  of  his 


80 


THE  rKOl'LK'S   HOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


shipwrockoil  companions.  At  length  (i)crl>aps  to  satisfy  liiniself  that 
Cohunhus  was  tleaa)  he  sent  a  small  vessel,  whieh,  after  a  brief  stop- 
pa^o,  returned  without  taking  a  single  man  from  the  wrecks. 

The  rebels  ashore,  headeil  by  Porras,  now  resolved  on  plnnderinr. 
the  vessels  and  seizing  the  person  of  their  commander,  but  Don  Bar" 
tholomew,  with  iifty  men,  eciual  to  the  number  of  tlie  hostile  faction 
met  them  on  the  roa.l,  an.l  routed  them,  seizing  Porras,  and  killing 
several  with  his  own  hand.     The  defeated  liiction,  with  the  mos°t 
nb)(vt  servility,  now  submitted,  and  took  oath  of  allegiance  on  a 
cross  and  a  missal,  imprecating  terrible  penalties  on  their  heads  in 
case  o(  any  future  n,iseon<bu.t-"that  the.v  might  die  without  con- 
lossion  or  absolution  Ironi  the  pope,  or  from  any  cardinal,  archbishop 
bisnop,  or  any  manner  of  priest;  that  they  s'h.,uld  be  deprived  of 
the  holy  sacraments;  that  their  bodies  should  be  cast  into  the  fields 
as  renegades  and  iieretics;  and,  to  make  all  Mire,  that  tliey  should 
take  no  benefit  at  their  death  from  any  bulls  ami  indulgonees." 

It  was  not  until  a  year  after  the  shipwreck  that  the  fiithful  xMen- 
dcz  could  obtain  permission  tosajl  to  the  rescue  of  his  sullering  eoni- 
inander  and  shipmates.  On  the  28th  of  .lune,  loOi,  they  embarked 
in  two  vessels,  and,  after  a  weary  voyage  of  two  months,  ivached  St 
Domingo,  where  the  people,  their  preju.Uees  abated,  welcomed  tlie 
great  admiral  with  enlhusiastic  rejoieing.  The  base  Ovando  also 
I'aid  many  hypoeritieal  attentions  to  tiie  commander  whom  he  had 
so  lately  injured  .and  lelt  to  {lerish. 

The  admini.stration  of  this  man,  during  the  brief  interval  since 
his  appointment,   had  been   marked  l)y  scenes  hardly  surpassed  in 
luuror  and  infamy  by  any  even  in  the  history  of  Spanish  colonization. 
Misfortune  attended  its  eomnieneement  in  the  death  of  more  than  a 
thou.-^and  of  the  eager  adventurers  whom  he  had  bn.ught  over,  and 
M-ho,  in  th.eir  insane  thirst  for  g..ld,  exjx.sed  themselves  recklessly 
to  disea.se  and  lamine.     The  Indians  w.-re  held  in  the  most  intolera- 
ble slavery,  ami  vast  numbers  perished   under  the  tM-anny  of  their 
new  (ask-n;aster.s,  rapacious  of  sudden  wealth.     ( )n  the  va-ue  report 
ol  a  meduated  conspiracy  in  Xaragua,  the  governor  marched  there 
\vitii  an  army,  and  was  received  by  the  queen,  Anaeaona,  tlie  aneie.it 
Inend  oi  the  whues,  and  by  her  caciques,  with  the  utmost  confidence 
and  hospitality,     l-or  several  days  the  craliv  Spaniard,  enjoviinr  the 
games  and  other  exhibitions  provided  for  his  amusement,  di^se.nl.led 
his  bloody  ;>arpose;  then,  without  a  word  of  warning,  he  let  loose 
on  the  unarmed  multitude  his  ferocious  soldiery,  which  committed 


J 


ft  liorriblo  massacre.     The  minor,  w„„  u 

»livc  by  firing  „,c  ,,„,acc  in  w|  M, Tv  .  V"™'  ™'-''  ''"™°'l 

province  w,.  ravagll  with  «:':,'    tlr::;;""""-  .  '^''»  "'""" 
,.».,  wore  ro.I„ced  .„  .he  ™,t  wrcS  '.iTvtrv    """""^  '"'«"" 

resolution  and  nia-mnimifv  1,  '":'^"'' ^"^'"^'t^J  «  most  king! yr 

numbers  of  Li.  p  °  :^'    ;--:^  -»  -f  executed,  and  gr°ea^ 

^nents.     Tl:e  wl.olo  native  no'"  ""'"'  '^'  "^°^^  «r««I  tor- 

Cohunbu,  on  bis  arriv 7^:^10  ^1""" '"^'^'"^  °^  "^^^""'"'^^-l- 
-.ce  I  left  this  island^si;;    J°„^^^^^^^^^        "^  ^  ^"'"^"'^'^  ^''^^* 

dead;  f  tbrongh  iU-tr^atment  1  ^  .^X"  s  ''^  "f  ^^^  ^^« 
otiiers  by  blows  and  cniel  us-.crn    ',  \y '  ""'"e  ^>y  the  sword, 

g.e:,t<.r  part  have  peri.slJdt  T^^^^J^'Tf  ^'""°--  ''^he 
hiid  lied,  from  no  bein-r  able  toT  ?  /""^  ^^''"■''  ^'^"^''«>-  ^''oy 
^'-.."     But  the  ample^re  ;t  :,r  n  ^"^^^^  "P- 

quitics,  were,  with  Ferdinand  n,  '!  1  ^  ',  "^  ^"'^  ''^  ^^ese  ini- 
tio; -«I  though  l.is  cZ  ;,:iStr^rl'^^^^^^^^^-- 
I.ro^uHe  that  Ovando  should  be  d  1  !  ^^1°  ^'''""''  ^'''""ed  his 
the  trouble  to  fuKll  it.  ^^  ''''^^'  ^^  "^^^^  g'-^ve  himself 

Columbus,  without  power  to  repress  thp«<>  nn       •  • 
not  without  rejnorse  at  the  fruitfof  tha   o,  '"   '"'  '"''  ^'''"^"'''^■^ 

l^een  the  first  to  practice  Instead  IW.  '"'^''^^^«'"«»t  which  he  had 
exhausted  in  juxlviding  'f^T  h t  ^  ^  ^rT"  '""^'^  ''' '''  ^^"''^ 
1- always  had  especial\are,     e  J^^  £  7'^  '''''''  ''''  "^'^-« 

Lucar.     Thence,  enfeebled  by  ol  1  a-e  Ja      r  '  '''"^'*^  "*  ^^''» 

to  Seville,  where  the  few  Z^^  ^::^';:;^'^  ''«  ^  ^^rne 
l«ss."d,  while  vainly  attempting  bv  the  Tnt  ?•      '  ''''''  '"'^'^''■^ 

-  touch  the  honour  or  Justie:'o  7t  ^^t  ^^"i?  ''V'^""-^'' 
actual  povertv,  as  ai.pears  bv  an  ^mJ  ^  ''''''  ^^'^"^^'^  to 

"  I-i..lc  have  -l' profltLd  '  l^^Htf  ^t^r?''  ^"  ^ '«""  ^<> ''-  -• 
--''  toils  and  perits,  ^inee  tr^^entVl"  V"°'"^"^^'  ^^"'' 
Jf  I  <lesire  to  eat  ..     le^n  I  hlZ  * ""''"  '"^  ^'^^^ '»  Spa'"- 

-0^1  U,..,  have  n.  ^i^^th^/'  ^T'  ^"'  ^"  '""'  ^^^  ^'  the 
Leila,  soon  ^fter  Hi.  .  i;"  Sr^  m  "''•"  '''^^  '^^'^^  ^'  ^- 
r">d  left  him  dependent  on  thl  ^''^  ^'T' ^^"^^"^^^"^'^^"■"^i^^tiee, 

Vo,.  jn -(•  "■°'"''"'^'  «^  ^^'^  «^'fish  Ferdinand. 

I 


TJIK    SPANIARDS    IN   AMKRICA. 


88 


CHAPTEH   I. 


DIHCOVKRY   ANI.  S  llll  V  K  Y  OF  CirDA,  — ITS 


CONQUEST  IIY  VKLAS-^ 


•  .VmaN.    r        '"'■~'''"^''"^''''''^'   ""  JAMAICA,!!    T, 

«'^«nKNT.UnK,,T,KSOF,„.S,.AX;iL^^"- 
Af'<-OUNTOF  AMKJtICUS  VJiSPUCJUS.    ' 

H...i  I.y  most  or  I,is  c.o,,t  ti  ^'^''''"'  '''"'  '■"^'■'^"^^•'^  ^y  him 

Asia.     In  im,  anat^        ;:  rr  V"'""  "'  '"'  ^'^"''"-'^  "^ 
cxt..nsivosu,.vo;Horii';    ;"i         ""^  "'^'"^f  ^'  1^^'^-  1-  made 

v^jagcof  survey.  Tl.,t  c.<MnuKU,,i;r  cin.wnun v'  '  /^^^^^^  ""  ^ 
continent,  proving  it  nn  island,  ar,d  n,a<le  eo  s^W  '  T^''""''^ 
'vpMiring  I.is  vessels  in  the  h,.,Mfi(nl  ^"''■^'™«  exploration, 

ii-t  <iisc.vered.  (.unin,     t      i  ,  c^!"'^^  "'"--'=''  -'-^''  he 

^^''">'',  with  "tlHT  natn     1  J]        t  i""''^  "'^'  oonvenieneo  of 

^<.;;.-...eonn::;i!,:^:,;;;;:r^^^^^^ 

rl.")tin.M)vandoi,tlHMnle     "'^'^'V^V"  '"'^'''^''^■^'  •'"  ''^"t>- 

••'■''•- •'undrednu>n,n:;j;:r.r;:\i;;X 

-'"I'-st  and  eol xation  of  the  i  t     f>  "^"'''  '"'  ''"' 

tl-t  island,  had  taken  .1,,  j,.  (""j^  m  •"'    «"^^"'^'^^'<>"  of 

■"-v-like,   were  easily  dofc^te.     1  '      i  r  ''"'  '''''^'  ""'^ 

capture,!,  was  senteneed  Wh      f.  '  ""^'"•^""''t-  ^^''ief;  bein^, 

nl.ve.  IVin.r  nr^ed  a^  s  fl  '"^  '"'''"l"'^  ooncpu-ror  to  he  hurned 
nndseeuretf;/  n";;-,""  ;;V''r  '^^'!'^^'/"  ^h-ce  Christian,tv, 
be  there;  and  I        .1]  /"  '"'",T''  '^ -- Spaniards  would 

>',„  told  that  there  wonld,  nu.de  the  ever-memorable 


TIIK    I'EOI'LK'S   BOOK   OV   HISTORY. 

.'iiiswcr,  "I  will  not  bo  :i  Christian  then;  for  I  would  not  go  ngain  to 
a  place  where  I  mnst  lind  men  so  cruel." 

Thanks,  however,  to  the  good  odiccs  of  Las  Casas,  the  generous 
advocate  of  an  oppressed  race,  who  accompanied  the  forces,  the  eon- 
quest  of  Cuba  was  disgi'aced  by  comparatively  few  of  these  atrocities. 
Indeed,  the  gentle  and  unwarlike  character  of  the  natives  induced 
them  to  submit,  with  very  little  resistance,  to  the  assumed  authority 
of  the  strangers,  and  to  embrace  the  ])roflered  religion  with  greater 
readiness  than  any  others  of  their  race.  The  town  of  Baracoa  was 
first  founded  by  the  invaders,  and  by  1514,  the  whole  island  had 
been  overrun  and  examined  by  the  increasing  nundjcrs  of  emigrants. 
The  towns  of  Santiago  and  Trinidad,  on  the  southern  shore,  were 
founded,  and  tho.se  of  Bayamo,  Puerto  Principe,  and  Santi-Esjiiritus, 
near  the  centre.  Batabano,  in  the  south,  founded  in  July,  1515,  at 
first,  in  honour  of  the  illustrious  di.scovercr,  received  the  name  of 
San  Cristoval  de  la  Havana — a  name,  however,  transferred,  in  1519, 
to  the  capital  at  j)rescnt  known  under  the  last  portion  of  the  appel- 
lation. The  advantages  of  this  s|)lendid  site  appear  to  have  been 
first  duly  appreciated  by  Hernando  dc  Soto,  governor  in  15JJS,  who 
erected  a  foitress,  still  standing,  and  otherwi.se  improved  the  Havana, 
ju.st  before  his  memorable  and  fiital  expedition  to  Florida.  So  rm- 
idly  did  it  increase  in  imimrtanec,  that  ten  years  afterwards,  it  was 
adopted  as  a  residence  by  the  governors,  and  in  1589,  was  formally 
cc<nstituted  by  the  crown  as  the  capital  of  the  island. 

The  beautiful  island  of  Porto  Hico  (called  Boriquen  by  the  native 
inhabitants)  wa.s,  like  all  the  most  im])ortant  of  the  Antilles,  discov- 
ered by  Columbus,  on  his  second  voyage,  in  November,  1-193.  'J'he 
natives  were  an  ingenious  and  industrious  people,  living  in  greater 
comfort  and  civilix;ation  tlian  any  which  tlie  Spaniards  had  vet 
encountered. 

On  the  snlijngation  of  ILispaniola,  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon,  a  soldier 
experienced  in  Nfoori.sh  warfare,  and  a  companion  of  Columbus  in 
his  second  expedition,  receivcnl  as  tlie  reward  of  his  actlvitv  in  (piell- 
ing  the  refractory  natives,  the  government  of  Higuey,  a  province 
lying  directly  opposite  to  the  verdant  mountains  of  Porto  Rico. 
Attracted  by  its  beauty,  and  the  reports  of  its  wi-alth,  he  made,  in 
1508,  an  expedition  of  reconnoi.sance;  and  tlie  following  vear,  hav- 
ing obtained  from  the  crown  an  appointment  as  gov(M-nor,  made  a 
.'settlement  there.  Oppression  of  the  natives,  as  usual,  provoked 
their  hostility,  but  a  beli-f  that  their  invaders,  of  sui)ernatural  ori- 


SCEyE  I\  THE   WEST  ISIHE 


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July, 
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iestly 


THE  SPANIARDS   IN   AMKUiOA. 

gin,  wore  invulnomblo  and  incanihJp  nC  r^    *i     i 

.vMlo  from  ^i,t,.„cc.    A  ocSo"  ,;  „1r„t™  .7''  "•  ™  '"  " 
and  analytic  turn,  resolved  tn  in.f,  /       'lovvever,  of  an  inquiring 

.strea,,,,  ,„  hold  thdr  burden  gcMy  ulLlZ  /  T"^  " 

time.     Doubt  beinif  laid  bv  tl,„  L  i.  °  >!on».dcrable 

lonncl  for  .he  dctfuclTn  „Y  tbt  S^a^'il'^d:  '°'"™'  ™"'""-""^  "» 

thole  island,,.^  c"„z.i7 Id:;/'''?:,""''  ™"'-''='''' """  "- 

i»  Hisraniol,,,  ,o  a  «a,  o  of  co,  "kr  1  *'"''«''-  '"luccd,  a, 

a«ndcxi,editio,,totheNeivWorl^>    ir'        ^°'""''^"'.  "'  l"s 
J0.-0  of  Cuba,  that  ».,„a„<H  ^ J      :«;  ;";3,;^  -f™ 

the  south,  turned  his  juoivs  iii  tint  dinvt ,        ,        '  ■^^  ""  '" 

10(«,  n.aehcd  the  ^L.  „^  jZ^^^';^^^^":;;^' f.^'^y. 

;:rro™s  '^.r;™""-'  "-'■■  -  ->'»"., :::i::i,';: 

.™J  revenue..     An  illu.tr    u-  ^               f          ''"«''l»'7  liignities 
tliat  e„,iueut  bo  e:,."";"=°  '"■"'."■"''  '"»  P-'l-e d 

-»rl,  ever,  „oi„t\'„'  li  'f     X  ""wi|r;™,'  l"?' '^'I"".'  '-''' 
dinaud  only  partially  eoiunli,,    '  I  nghtc.ona  deeision  Fer- 

...ont  of  Ili, Iniob  Vro  «       't  '"\ ''"'""'"'  '"  ""=  «-"-=™- 

Ha.  had  allowed.     Ii„,  lin.Iin,  t hat  ,  f      "  /of ';'""'""  "'  "''■' 

-^-'rw....n.  hi»  „..n  ju„.„ieti"„n,  i,adte':'™i,;7;"rcr: 

*  Brynn  Eilwjinis,  Es((. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


) 


4.^      «. 


9." 


86 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


t4^ 


#-»-^ 


to  Ojeda  and  Nicuesa  (then  busied  with  their  schemes  for  the  settle- 
ment of  the  main  land),  he  determined  to  anticipate  their  movements. 

Accordingly,  in  November,  1509,  a  force  of  seventy  men  was  dis- 
patched thither,  under  Juan  de  Esquivel,  a  gallant  cavalier,  and  a 
man  of  humane  and  magnanimous  temperament.  To  his  eternal 
honour,  the  occupation  of  the  island  was  disgraced  by  none  of  those 
atrocities  which  have  left  their  indelible  stain  on  the  names  of  nearly 
all  other  early  Spanish  adventurers.  Though  the  island  produced  no 
gold,  a  moderate  and  settled  prosperity  was  the  natural  result.  "  The 
affairs  of  Jamaica,"  says  a  Spanish  historian,  "went  on  prosperously, 
because  Juan  de  Esquivel  having  brought  the  natives  to  submission 
wiihont  any  effusion  of  blood,  they  laboured  in  planting  cotton,  and 
raising  other  commodities  which  yielded  great  profit."  This  humane 
and  honourable  officer,  however,  having  founded  the  town  of  New 
Seville,  and  established  a  flourishing  colony,  died  within  a  few  years 
of  his  appointment. 

The  settlement  appears  to  have  increased  with  surprising  rapidity, 
for,  in  1523,  only  thirteen  years  after  the  arrival  of  Esquivel,  Fran- 
cis de  Garay,  then  holding  the  command,  fitted  out  an  expedition 
of  eight  hundred  and  fifty  men,  many  of  whom  were  cavalry,  for 
the  conquest  of  Pauuco,  a  territory  on  the  Gulf,  which,  however, 
Cortes  had  already  secured  to  the  Spanish  crown.  The  customary 
scenes  of  cruelty  and  massacre  followed  hard  on  the  death  of  the 
first  governor,  and  so  rapidly  did  the  work  of  extermination  proceed, 
that  in  little  more  than  half  a  century,  it  is  said,  nearly  the  whole 
native  population,  consisting  of  sixty  thousand,  had  perished.  Many 
caves  in  the  mountains,  still  thickly  covered  with  human  bones,  attest 
the  miserable  end  of  these  unfortunates,  who,  fleeing  from  the  sword 
or  lash  of  the  oppressors,  died  from  hunger  in  those  dismal  recesses. 

Singular  to  state,  the  capital  of  New  Seville,  after  attaining,  in  a 
few  years,  considerable  size  and  importance,  was  abandoned — accord- 
ing to  some  accounts,  by  reason  of  a  destructive  attack  of  the  natives, 
and  to  others,  on  account  of  the  invasion  of  an  innumerable  swarm 
of  ants.  Neither  of  these  legends  are  probable,  but  it  is  certain  that 
the  ruins  of  extensive  buildings,  some  unfinished,  yet  remain,  iuid 
that  a  new  capital  city,  St.  .Jago  de  la  Vega,  or,  as  it  is  now  called, 
Spanish  Town,  was  founded  at  an  earh'  date  in  the  history  of  the 
country.  The  subsequent  annals  of  the  island  present  compara- 
tively little  of  interest  until  its  capture  by  the  lilnglish,  under  the 
active   administration  of  Cromwell,   in  1655 — an  act  of  hostility 


THE  SPANIARDS  IN  AMERICA. 


87 


much  decried  by  some  writers,  but  which  appears  to  have  been  only 
a  reasonable  and  moderate  reprisal  for  numerous  massacres  and 
atrocities  committed  by  the  Spaniards  of  the  West  Indies  on  the 
inhabitants  of  all  neighbouring  colonies. 


ACCOONT  OF  AfflERICUS  VESPUCIUS. 

The  renown  of  the  discovery  of  the  Western  Continent  and  the 
eternal  perpetuation  of  that  renown  by  the  adoption  of  a  name  were 
certainly  due_  to  Christopher  Columbus,  whose  grand  geniu^  and 
indefatigable  industry  laid  open  the  pathway  to  its  shores.    The  next 
chum,  m  justice,  would  be  that  of  its  first  actual  discoverer,  Sebastian 
Cabot  who,  through  a  long  life-time  of  enterprise  and  perseverance 
proved  himself  not  unworthy  of  the  high  honour  which  chance 
accorded  to  his  youth.     But,  siugular  to  state,  a  claim  founded  on 
the  most  glaring  imposture,  and  unrelieved  either  by  original  genius 
ol-  great  achievement,  has  resulted  in  the  eternal  commemoration  of 
a  name  otherwise  long  since  lapsed  into  obscurity-the  name  of 
Amerigo  Vespucci.* 

He  was  born  at  Florence  on  the  9th  of  March,  1451,  of  noble 
though  decayed  parentage,  and  received  a  good  education  under  the 
care  of  his  uncle,  an  ecclesiastic.     Renato,  afterwards  king  of  Sicily 
was  his  fellow-pupil,  and  to  their  subsequent  correspondence,  or  to 
a  fabrication  of  a  portion  thereof,  America  is  indebted  for  its  present 
unsatisfactory  name-a  name  representing  no  heroism  of  soul    no 
1  e-]ong  devotedness  to  a  great  cause-but  bearing  in  its  every  sylla- 
ble the  continual  suggestion  of  fraud,  usurpation  and  inaptitude 
_    l^or  many  years  Vespucci  was  engaged  successfully  in  commerce 
in  "s  natife  city,  but  finally,  meeting  with  reverses,  was  compelled 
m  149o  to  accept  an  agency  in  Spain.     At  Seville  ho  became  ac- 
quamted  with  Columbus,  and  was  employed  by  the  sovereigns  in 
fitting  out  vessels  for  their  exploring  expeditions.     He  sailed  with 
Alonzo  de  Ojeda  in  his  voyage  of  1499,  inflimous  for  treachery  and 
cruelty  committed  on  the  Indians,  .and,  with  that  daring  but  unnrin- 
cipled  coramande'r,  coasted  along  a  great  extent  of  the  shores  of 
South  America.     The  appearance  of  this  expedition  on  the  coast  of 
Hispaniola,  .nd  the  uneasiness  which  it  caused  the  admiral    have 
been  mentioned. 

*  L.itinized  into  Amerieus  VoHpiicius, 


88 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   IIISTOEY. 


In  1501,  and  again  in  1503,  the  Florentine  adventurer  sailed  to 
Brazil,  in  the  Portuguese  service;  and  from  the  interesting  accounts 
■which  he  gave  of  the  new  continent,  it  became  fashionable  to  com- 
pliment him  by  giving  it  the  title  of  America.  In  1505,  he  returned 
to  Spain,  and  we  find  him  in  friendly  communication  with  Colurtlbus, 
and  offering  to  use  his  influence  with  the  Spanish  court  in  behalf 
of  the  rights  of  that  injured  commander — proof  almost  positive  that 
no  claim  to  the  discovery  of  America  had  then  been  broached  by 
him  or  by  any  one  in  his  behalf.  He  received  the  ofl&ce  of  Grand 
Pilot  of  Spain,  which  he  held  until  his  death  in  1512. 

"By  a  most  extraordinary  piece  of  imposture,  if  committed  by 
himself,  or  of  forgery,  if  committed  by  another,  the  claims  of  Ves- 
puc'us  to  the  glory  of  the  discovery  of  the  New  World  have  now, 
for  centuries,  been  seriously  discussed — though,  at  the  present  day, 
few,  except  his  Florentine  countrymen,  will  allow  them  even  the 
merit  of  plausibility,  on  grounds  so  utterly  untenable.  In  a  letter 
which  he  is  said  to  have  written  to  King  Eenato,  and  which  was 
published  in  1507,  (only  a  few  months  after  the  death  of  the  great 
admiral)  an  account  is  given  of  a  voyage  which  he  claims  to  have 
made  to  the  coast  of  South  America  in  1-197 — a  year  before  the 
memorable  expedition  of  Columbus.  No  assertion  ever  stood  more 
entirely  unsupported.  By  the  unanimous  testimony  of  a  host  of 
witnesses,  it  has  been  proved  that,  except  in  this  letter,  none  of  his 
contemporaries,  or  of  those  familiar  with  the  Spanish  marine,  had 
ever  heard  of  any  such  voyage.  His  own  conduct  and  the  tenor  of 
his  numerous  remaining  letters  are  all  directly  opposed  to  the  reality 
of  any  such  exploit;  and  at  this  distance  of  time  we  are  unable  to 
decide  whether  the  account  is  a  forgery  of  some  other  person,  or 
whether,  actuated  by  a  miserable  vanity,  he  thought  it  possible,  at 
least  with  his  correspondent,  to  arrogate  to  himself  the  discovery  of 
the  continent.  It  is  certainly  more  agreeable  to  suppose  the  former, 
than  to  admit  that  a  man  of  the  real  reputation  of  Vespucius,  and  to 
whose  good  character  Columbus  himself  has  borne  testimony,  should 
have  been  capable  of  such  unblushing  impudence  and  falsehood."* 
*  "Discoverers,  &.e.,  of  America." 


Kysll^ 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  ISTHMUS, 

AND  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  PACIFIC. 


CHAPTER   I. 

DISASTROUS    ATTEMPTS    Tn    pnir^r,, 

>fITH  THJ  Il,IIH).s._DISCOrERy  OF  lEE  f  ICIPIC. 

foring,  lo.  and  rrppoi ::°  ■  Ai°:r''!' "'*  *5"'=™-  ^f- 

Sctastia,,  was  founded  by  Ablz'o  <feoT  •"."'"'  ''■""^''  S"" 
east  side  of  Ihc  Gulf  of  Uraba  h  f  ^  .'  '\  ^'""  '*•"*■  ""  "'O 
of  the  eommauder  and  ttl    '^  ^  ?*'"  *'  ""P"'"""'  bravery 

in..aeab,ee„n,:?;o?tr:t;tre^e::d/:r'^''^ 

Groat  numbers  were  sliin    on-l   .1         '''*°'^^  ^^^^^^  its  destruction. 

Ni<«a,  a,  Nonibre  do  Di»  reil,  a  t   '"'™P''/"''"  ^'"So  de 

"v..i.l  arrest  tarn  b  f        1         '",';'"''"  ■"■""'K""  ■=''"■■«'■■■■     'I'" 

Istlunus  in  seareb  oVt;,:e„l';;edr'"lte°er  •"""■«  '"  '"^ 

"        -J-i'-i-     -vucr  experiencing  .-uiiio 


90 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


misfortunes,  the  adventurers,  under  the  guidance  of  Balboa,  who 
had  before  explored  the  coast,  made  their  way  to  the  Indian  village 
of  Darien,  on  the  gulf  of  that  name,  where  they  found  much  plunder 
and  established  a  settlement  (1510).  The  active  and  intriguing 
genius  of  Balboa  soon  succeeded  in  wresting  the  chief  command 
from  Enciso;  and  desirous  of  propitiating  the  favour  of  the  crown 
by  remittances  of  gold,  as  usual,  he  dispatched  Francisco  Pizarro, 
afterwards  so  celebrated  for  the  Conquest  of  Peru,  with  a  small  force 
on  a  tour  of  exploration.  This  attempt,  from  native  hostility,  proved 
a  failure,  but  accident  soon  showed  the  way  to  profitable  pillage. 

Two  Spanish  refugees,  who  had  been  living  on  the  hospitality  of 
Careta,  a  wealthy  cacique,  were  found  by  the  new  settlers,  and 
treacherously  suggested  an  attack  on  their  late  host.  The  governor, 
accordingly,  with  a  considerable  force,  marched  upon  his  town  and 
plundered  it,  after  the  unscrupulous  fashion  of  the  age;  but  peace 
was  restored  by  the  marriage  of  the  chief's  daughter  to  the  conqueror, 
and  the  latter  made  a  campaign  against  the  enemies  of  his  father- 
in-law,  from  which  he  also  reaped  a  considerable  booty. 

More  profitable  still  than  these  unprincipled  forays  was  a  peace- 
able visit  which  he  made  to  the  great  cacique  of  Comagre,  who 
received  him  with  much  honour,  and  whose  son,  a  prince  of  spirit 
and  generosity,  bestowed  on  him  sij^ty  slaves  and  four  thousand 
ounces  of  gold.  The  royal  share  deducted,  Balboa,  less  anxious  for 
wealth  than  for  renown  and  authority,  commanded  his  followers  to 
divide  the  remainder.  They  wrangled  noisily  around  the  scales,  till 
the  prince,  moved  with  contempt,  struck  the  instrument,  and  scattered 
the  gold  over  the  floor.  "  Why  should  you  quarrel  for  such  a  trifle  ?" 
he  said :  "Behold  those  lofty  mountains.  Beyond  them  lies  a  mighty 
sea,  which  may  be  discerned  from  their  summit.  All  the  streams 
which  flow  down  the  southern  side  of  those  mountains  into  that  sea, 
abound  in  gold;  and  the  kings  who  reign  upon  its  borders  eat  and 
drink  out  of  golden  vessels.  Gold,  in  fact,  is  as  common  and  plenti- 
ful among  those  people  of  the  south,  as  iron  is  among  you  Spaniards." 
The  way  to  this  tempting  region,  he  added,  was  diflicult,  and  beset 
with  savage  tribes ;  but  offered  his  services  in  a  march  thither.  His 
guest  listened  with  eager  interest,  and  his  heart  beat  high  with  the 
hope  of  achieving  an  exploit  which  should  place  his  name  high  in 
the  list  of  discoverers  and  conquerors. 

On  his  return  to  Darien,  he  dispatched  a  large  sum  of  gold,  for  the 
royal  treasury,  to  Ilispaniola,  and  entreated  assistance  from  Diego 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  ISTHMUS.  gj 

Columbus,  then  viceroy  of  tlxat  island.     He  next  set  forth   with  an 
hundred  and  seventy  men,  to  seareh  for  the  famous  temp  e  of  Do 
bayba,  whose  walls    according  to  the  native  reports   sho.e  wiU. 
golden  ornaments  of  inestimable  vilnp       TT. 

strange  tract  of  marshes,  inteCrsed  with  ieVr^  """""   "^^"^  ' 
spreading  branches  the  peopleTt't  c^^l^^^^^^^^^  ^^'^r 

^:ani-'rir^::;t^-:^:-^ 

,  o  y-i  nis  majesty  by  their  mterpreters,  and  biddin^r  l.in-, 

come  down.     "But  hep  dpnirorl  "  o„      ^i       , ,     ,  wuumg  umi 

™,M  come  out  of  ^  itZ  ,U  *  ,1  °'"'°'""''''  """"'■=« 
after  l.ia  fashione  .  ""i  '"C*  'T  ^^f''  ''""  '"  '^'« 
»gai„e,  .l,cy  fell  .o  he„i„g  4^  ...e  ^^  „t,  I'Sl  ""^ 
ing  Ihe  ohippes  fi.ll  from  the  tree  on  evervs  dT  la,m  1 1?"'  "°"' 
pose  and  ea,,,e  do„„e,  with  „„e„  .„„  oflrit-X'dt  p'rXe' 
insstoreof  the  nrec  ous  riiptil  fi,£>c,.-      i  ,    ^'fecuio  produce 

,1      ^'^''^^^s  "'etal,  the  simple  monarch  replied  that  'n^f^^ 
had  no  golde,  and  that  hee  neuer  had  any  neede  tWpnf  ! 

regarded  it  any  more  then  stones."     But  '"1!!™  '  v  '  ^"' 

with  him,"  he  promised  to  br!„„-  .i  /  ^'^'"-^  '"^^'^"* 

mountain's,  and'  toT^  d      I  e".""'  T  l'^  "^'^^^^^--g 
guests  refreshed  themselves  C  the  ro!    T  1   '  ^'!.  ^"^^^^^P^'^"" 
latter,  that  the  'Svine  "  lore  3'  H     ^       T"^''  ""^  °'"^^'  ^^"^^ 
turbed  by  the  osXiirof't  e  tf  ""        7^ 
vault  at  the  foot  of  the  tree     tCJ^   7\  '"""     ?'  ^"  "  '^'''''  '^ 

dere,,  i„  the  desolate  mou„t°::idttd::.°'  °"  '"™'  ""'  ™- 

spee..„ekd  fol^h  ^^l^Lfl  "Siri:  'S^lt  "'^ 

^  uy  a  letter  Horn  the  treasurer  of  Hismninlo 
gretX'  ':":r'  ",";'  '"^  ""'™"-  "^  "-  eneZr   „rt  .a, 

.»onn,ai„s,  and  t    „         t  Jl  Jr?:  *°  ^n^"  '"'^°"''  •"» 


92 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


to  fight  his  way  to  the  shores  of  the  unexplored  ocean.  On  the  20th 
he  left  the  teriitories  of  Ponca,  a  chief  whom  he  had  defeated  and 
conciliated,  and  was  soon  involved  in  a  region  perilous  by  its  vast 
marshes  and  other  natural  obstacles.  Quaraqua,  the  chief  of  this 
couiitry,  with  a  great  army,  set  on  him,  while  entangled  in  these 
difllculties;  but  the  fire-arms  and  the  ferocious  blood-hounds  of  the 
invaders  were  too  much  for  the  undisciplined  courage  and  iucfTicient 
weapons  of  the  Indian  multitudes;  they  were  signally  defeated,  with 
a  loss  of  six  hundred,  including  their  cacique.  Several  of  the  pris- 
oners, with  a  cruelty  habitual  to  the  Spaniards,  were  given  to  be  torn 
in  pieces  by  the  hounds;  and  considerable  plunder,  in  gold  and 
jewels,  was  found  in  the  conquered  villages. 

By  this  time,  from  wounds,  fatigue  and  illness,  so  many  of  the 
command  had  become  disabled,  that  Balboa,  with  only  sixty-seven 
companions,  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  mountains.     On  the  26th 
of  September,  1513,  as  they  approached  the  summit,  the  general 
halted  his  force,  and  ordered  that  no  man  should  stir  from  his  place. 
He  ascended  alone,  and  on  gaining  the  highest  point,  beheld  the 
distant  Pacific,  never  before  surveyed  by  P]uropean  eyes,  glittering 
in  the  south.     Overcome  with  joy,  he  kneeled  and  returned  fervent 
thanks  to  God.     His  people,  with  uncontrollable  eagerness,  hastened 
up.     A  solemn  Te  Demn  was  sung  by  all,  and  formal  possession  of 
the  new  ocean,  with  all  its  coasts  and  islands,  was  made  by  proclama- 
tion in  the  name  of  Castile.     It  is  not  a  little  singular  that  the  first 
European  settlement  on  the  Western  Continent  should  have  been  at 
the  only  spot  from  which  the  Great  Western  Ocean  was  accessible,  and 
that  a  discovery  of  such  importance  should  have  followed  so  closclv 
on  a  report  of  its  possibility;    but  this  very  circumstance  tended 
greatly  to  mislead  future  explorers,  and  to  foster  delusive  hopes  of 
reaching  it  as  easily  in  other  latitudes—as  witness  the  attempt  of  La 
Salle  by  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  of  Hudson  by  the  North  lliver,  to 
gain  the  shores  of  China— the  belief  of  the  Virginian  settlers  that  the 
Chesapeake  led  thither,  and  the  confident  expectation,  so  long  enter- 
tained, of  finding  an  easy  passage  to  India  by  the  north  of  America. 
Leaving  a  cross  and  a  pile  of  stones  to  mark  the  scene  of  his 
memorable  discovery,  Balboa  hastened  to  the  shore  of  the  yet-dis- 
tant ocean.     He  defeated  many  savages,  and  gained  vast  bootv  in 
gold  on  the  way.     Arrived  at  last  on  the  sea-shore,  he  grasped  a 
banner,  and,  plunging  into  the  waves,  took  solemn  possession  in  the 
name  of  the  Spanish  crown,  vowing  to  maintain,  against  all  chal- 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  ISTHMUS. 


93 


lengers,  Christian  or  infidel,  its  "empire  and  dominion  over  these 
Indies,  islands,  and  Terra  Firma,  northern  and  southern,  with  all 
their  seas,  both  at  the  Arctio  and  Antarctic  poles,  on  either  side  of 
the  equinoctial  lino,  whether  within  or  without  the  tronics  of  Cancer 
and  Capricorn,  both  now  and  in  all  times,  as  long  as  the  world 
cudures,  and  until  the  final  judgpent  of  all  mankind."  Of  all  the 
vast  regions  of  sea  and  land  included  in  this  swelling  annunciation, 
what  now  remains  to  a  nation  whose  conquests  were  stained  with 
such  hideous  murder  and  cruelty,  and  whose  government  was  marked 
by  such  oppression,  rapacity,  and  illiberal  exclusiveness! 


CHAPTEH   IL 

THE  RETURN  M  ARCH.  — A  rPOINTMENT  OF  PEDRARIAS  DAVILA, 
—HIS  EXPEDITION.— HIS  JEALOUSY  OP  BALBOA.— MISFOR- 
TUNES OF  THE  COLONY.  — E.XPEDITION  OP  MORALES  AND  PI- 
ZARRO.— RECONCILIATION  OF  PEDRARIAS  AND  BALBOA. 

—  VESSELS  CONVEYED  OVERLAND  TO  THE  PACIFIC, 

SUDDEN  ARREST,  TRIAL  AND  EXECUTION  OF  BALBOA. 

Seizing  .some  Indian  canoes,  which  he  found  on  the  shore,  Bal- 
boa, with  sixty  men,  launched  boldly  forth  into  the  unknown  ocean. 
Storms,  and  the  dangers  of  tlie  coast,  forbade  any  extensive  voya-e 
in  these  frail  craft,  but  the  adventurer  learned  of  the  natives  enough 
to  fire  his  highest  ambition  and  to  excite  his  utmost  energies.     The 
land,  they  assured  him,  had  no  end,  and  far  in  the  south°  gold  was 
to  be  found  in  abundance,  and  certain  animals  were  used  as  beasts 
of  burden.     They  moulded  in  clay  the  figure  of  a  lama,  in  confirm- 
ation of  their  story,  and  readily  furnished  large  quantities  of  gold 
and  pearls  to  their  rapacious  visitors.    Early  in  November,  the  e.xpe- 
dition  set  out  on  its  return,  taking  many  Indians  to  assist  in  carry- 
ing the  treasure,  which  had  become  too  bulky  for  transportation  by 
Its  owners.     The  march  homeward  was  distinguished  by  extreme 
suffering  and  great  cruelty  inflicted  on  the  native  inhabitants.    Num- 
bers of  the  Indian  portens,  burdened  with  gold,  not  being  permitted 
to  carry  sufficient  food  for  tlieir  support,  peri.shed  on  the  way;  and 
the  atrocities  inflicted  on  the  people  of  those  districts  through  which 


94 


THE  PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF   IIISTOUY. 


the  Spaniards  passed,  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that,  in  a  single 
instance,  they  "gaue  four  Kings"  (chiefs)  "to  be  devoured  by  dogges." 
Nearly  three  months  were  consumed  in  this  teriible  return  march 
but  the  relics  of  the  force  finally  reached  Darien  with  a  treasure  in 
pearls  and  gold,  which  caat  into  the  shade  all  booty  acquired  by 
previous  marauders. 

Meanwhile,  the  enemies  of  Balboa,  possessing  the  ear  of  the  court, 
had  procured  the  appointment  of  Pedrarias  Davila,  a  man  of  a  cruel 
and  treacherous  character,  as  governor  of  Darien.  The  accounts 
already  received  of  an  ocean,  and  of  wealthy  kingdoms  lying  bevond 
the  mountains,  had  inflamed  the  public  mind  with  sanguine  expecta- 
tion; and  accordingly,  for  the  first  time  since  the  memorably-disas- 
trous voyage  of  Ovando,  cavaliers  and  speculators  flocked  in  crowds 
to  join  an  expedition  to  the  New  World.  With  fifteen  sail,  carry- 
ing two  thousand  impatient  adventurers,  tbe  new  governor,  on  the 
12tJi  of  April,  1514,  took  his  departure.  Just  afterwards,  arrived 
a  messenger  from  Balboa,  announcing  his  splendid  discovery,  and 
bearing  dazzling  specimens  of  the  wealth  of  the  isthmus.  Pro])iti- 
ated  by  these  tidings,  Ferdinand,  regretting  his  precipitancy,  at  once 
dispatched  fresh  instructions,  constituting  the  fortunate  discoverer 
Lieutenant  of  the  South  Sea,  and  conferring  on  him  the  rule  of 
important  provinces  in  the  adjoining  region. 

Pedrarias,  on  his  arrival,  fcmnd  the  colony,  by  the  indefatigable 
exertions  of  his  predecessor,  in  a  state  of  considerable  j)rosperity, 
Darien  already  containing  five  hundred  European  inhabitants,  with 
thrice  that  number  of  natives.     The  de])osed  governor  readily  sub- 
mitted to  the  authority  of  his  rival,  and  the  latter,  with  excessive 
meanness,  having,  by  a  pretended  iriendliness,  gained  full  informa- 
tion of  the  late  surveys  and  discoveries,  began  to  attempt  his  ruin. 
On  the  arrival  of  the  royal  missive,  he  wi^thheld  it  (or  a  time,  and 
finally,  through  the  interposition  of  Qucvedo,  bishop  of  the  province 
only  so  far  relaxed  his  injustice  as  to  permit  its  acceptance  on  con- 
dition of  the  dependence  of  the  Lieutenant  on  his  own  authority. 
His  jealous  and  irritable  temper  was  further  inflamed  by  the  arrival 
ot  a  vessel  from  Cuba,  with  seventy  hardy  adventurers,  who  had 
come  to  accompany  Balboa  on  a  fresh  expedition  to  the  Pacific.    He 
arbitrarily  forbade  the  projected  excursion,  and  it  is  said  was  with  dif- 
ficulty dissuaded  from  confining  the  object  of  his  suspicion  in  a  cage. 
His  own  administration,  from  the  commencement,  was  marked  by 
ill-f(jrtune  and  mismanagement.     Of  the  rash  and  improvident  mul- 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  I8TIIMD8. 


06 


titudo  which  ho  had  brought  over,  seven  hundred  soon  perished  of 
dKseaao  and  hunger;  others  took  refuge  in  Cuba,  and  manv,  in  n.iser- 
able  plight  returned  to  Spain.  A  force  of  four  hundred  men,  which 
he  dispatched  to  open  a  line  of  communication  with  the  Pacific 
failed,  with  much  disaster,  from  the  hostility  of  the  Indians-  and 
.■mother,  of  two  hundred,  which,  under  Balboa  and  Luis  Carillo 
ngam  set  forth  in  quest  of  the  temple  of  Dobayba,  was  compelled 
by  the  same  cause  to  retreat  to  Darien,  with  the  loss  of  more  than 
liall  their  number. 

A  more  fortunate  expedition  was  m.'^de  by  Gaspar  Morales,  a  rela- 
tive of  the  governor,  who,  accompanied  by  Francisco  Pizarro,  a 
spirit  as  fierce  and  cruel  as  himself,  set  forth,  in  command  of  sixty 
men,  to  cross  the  mountains.     Arriving  at  the  South  Sea,  (whither 
Pizarro  had  already  journeyed  with  Balboa,)  the  two  commanders, 
with  a  small  force,  in  four  canoes,  embarked  for  the  Pearl  Islands 
lying  some  distance  from  the  coa^t.     The  chief  cacique,  after  a  spir- 
ited resistance,  was  defeated;  and  submitting  with  the  best  grace  he 
could  assume,  conducted  the  victors  to  his  palace,  where  he  received 
baptism  at  their  hands,  and  bestowed  on  them  a  basket  of  pearls  of 
more  than  a  hundred  weight,  some  of  which  were  large  as  hazel-nuts. 
He  took  the  leaders  to  the  summit  of  a  tower,  whence  he  showed  them 
the  long  line  of  coast  stretching  to  the  golden  realms  of  the  Incas- 
the  destined  prey  of  an  obscure  adventurer  then  standing  beside  him 
The  return  of  this  company,  harassed  by  Indian  hostilities,  was 
marked  by  the  most  frightful  scenes  of  massacre  and  cruelty      A 
native  force,  attacked  by  surprise,  in  the  dead  of  night,  was  cut  off 
to  the  number  of  seven  hundred;  and  eighteen  caciques,  taken  by 
stratagem   were  devoured  alive  by  blood  hounds.     The  Spaniards 
worn  out  by  repeated  attacks,  retreated  slowly,  killing  the  r  prison! 
ers  on  the  way,  that  the  fierceness  of  the  pursuit  might  be  cl  ocked 
by  the  lamentations  of  their  fri.nds  over  the  bodies;  and  one  o       e 
marauders,  unable  to  keep  up  the  march,  hanged  h  mselfT.   it 
rather  than  fidl  into  the  hands  of  the  avenging  natives,     ift^;  "e": 
rome  and  wel  -deserved  suffering,  the  relies  of  the  expedition,  wiih 
a  vast  hoard  of  ill-gotten  treasure,  arrived  at  Darien 

The  enmity  of  the  surrounding  tribes,  now  thoroughly  aroused 
kept  the  settlers  m  a  state  of  constant  anxietv.  An  tniifdred  S 
e.ghty  men,  well  armed  and  supplied  with  artillery,  attacked  amo  . 
tangled  forests  and  morasses,  were  cut  off  to  a  man.  The  town  itself 
was  soon  almost  in  a  state  of  siege;  and  the  governor  was  compelled 


06 


TIIK   TEOI'LE'S    HOOK   OF   IIISTOIJY. 


reluctantly  to  accept  the  services  of  his  able  and  exjierienced  rival, 
as  the  only  means  of  i)rcscrving  the  colony.  To  cement  the  doubt- 
ful alliance,  which  was  brought  about  by  Quevcdo,  it  was  agreed 
that  Balboa  should  receive  in  marriage  a  daughter  of  the  governor, 
to  be  sent  for  from  Spain  (1516). 

That  active  commander,  permitted  to  resume  his  ambitious  career, 
made  strenuous  exertions  in  preparing  for  a  great  expedition  to  the 
South  Sea.  lie  built  two  vessels  on  the  shore  of  the  Atlantic,  which, 
with  almost  incredible  labour,  were  carried  piecemeal  over  the  mount- 
ains, and  put  together  on  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  Numbers  of  the 
natives  perished  in  this  exhausting  task,  but  it  was  observed  that  the 
Spaniards,  and  especially  negroes,  of  hardier  frame,  endured  the  labour 
with  less  distress  and  mortality.  Two  brigantines,  the  first  of  Eu- 
ropean build  that  ever  floated  on  the  Pacific,  were  finally  launched 
upon  the  Hiver  Balsas,  and  Balboa,  with  his  companions,  embarkin<r, 
pushed  with  exultation  into  the  waters  of  the  unknown  ocean.  The 
course  which  he  pursued,  along  the  shore  of  the  isthmus,  would  have 
brought  him  in  time  to  the  wealthy  regions  of  Peru;  but,  after  pass- 
ing the  great  gulf  of  San  Miguel,  the  winds  proved  so  adverse  that 
he  was  compelled  to  retrace  his  course,  lie  landed  on  the  main- 
land, where  he  defeated  a  large  force  of  Indians,  and  then,  proceed- 
ing to  the  Pearl  Islands,  set  about  building  two  additional  vessels. 

In  the  midst  of  his  ardent  and  ambitious  projects,  sudden  ruin 
and  destruction  overtook  the  discoverer  and  intended  explorer  of 
the  Pacific.  The  falsehood  and  treachery  of  one  Garabito,  his  secret 
enemy,  whom  he  had  dispatched  on  business  to  the  settlement,  so 
worked  on  the  jealous  mind  of  Pedrarias,  that,  supposing  his  rival 
to  aspire  to  a  kingdom  of  his  own,  he  resolved  on  his  immediate 
overthrow.  The  unsuspecting  commander,  by  a  friendly  message, 
requesting  an  interview,  was  induced  to  cross  the  mountains;  and 
was  met  on  the  way  by  an  armed  force  under  Pizarro,  who  put  him 
in  chains,  and  conveyed  him  to  the  town  of  Ada.  He  was  imme- 
diately put  on  trial  for  treason,  and  though  the  evidence  against  him 
was  little  more  than  the  perjury  of  Garabito,  the  alcalde,  overawed 
by  the  governor,  gave  reluctantly  a  judgment  of  c(jnviction.  The 
latter,  with  sanguinary  haste,  ordered  his  immediate  execution,  and 
that  of  four  of  his  associates.  The  unfortunate  man,  after  confessing 
and  partaking  of  the  sacrament,  laid  his  head,  with  his  accustomed 
courage,  on  the  fotal  block,  and,  at  a  single  stroke,  amid  the  lament- 
ations of  the  people,  it  was  severed  from  his  body  (1517). 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  ISTHMUS.  97 

TI,us  perishccl,  at  the  ago  of  forty-tvvo,  one  of  the  boldost  most 

Hagacuu.,  and    or  a  br.of  time,  most  fortunate,  of  the  car  rSpan 

jHlven  urens.     How  conHdent  wore  his  hopes,  ami  how  ar     nt  1^^";! 

or  onterpr,so  appears  in  the  indignant  vindication  of  hi   conluro 

the  implacable  governor      '<  I  hnd  fM.,,.  d  •      ».  l  conauct  to 

wi,„.,,n.ii  .0  d„  b„.  toi^;::''!  ''XTorrrVrSr™- 

been  anticit.ated  am   fl    r  v.      ,  '  "'''''  "^  ^  '^''^'''■o  >vould  have 

uttii  anutipaicci,  and  that  the  discoverer  nP  tli,.  7>„«'f  n     , 


CHAPTEE  III. 

Tiij  WOULD  cmcumiavioiiji, 

vopge  of  Magellan,  whoV.t™  tl  b,'  TZTS'T"' 
J«Iy  due  the  eredi.  of  fl,st  circumnavigating  .he  it  T  .T  " 
of  findmg  a  westerlv  msMio-f.  tr.  i^.^  f  ^  ^"^  ^^P^ 

h.d  been  g™dnal,,relini„i,,,e7„:t  ;«7r„?„n,";!  r"^^'^' 

contment  became  apparent     ^nnJn    ,      ^^  ^''*^"*  ^^  ^^^^  American 

wit.,  Ponnga,  ,.e.  tiSrunder  tv^X^I;  ITlZl  f"'^"" 
-0  Ma^e.a„,  a  4eet%f  .t^C^'Z^oi^dl/b- 


98 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


hopes  of  promotion  for  service  in  3  dia,  carried  his  brilliant  talents, 
his  splendid  courage,  and  invincible  perseverance  to  the  court  oi 
Charles  V.  There  he  strongly  urged  the  feasibility  of  an  attempt 
once  more  to  reach  India  from  the  west,  and  Ximenes,  the  enlight- 
ened minister  of  that  monarch,  favoured  his  proposals.  With  five 
small  vessels  and  tvvo  hundred  and  thirty  men,  on  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1519,  he  set  sail  from  the  port  of  San  Lucar. 

Coasting  southerly  along  the  shores  of  Brazil,  he  found  a  conve- 
nient harbour,  which  he  named  Port  St.  Julian,  in  about  the  fi''tioth 
degree  of  south  latitude.  Here  he  anchored  his  squadron,  and  passed 
the  winter  of  15.20,  which,  extending  from  !May  to  September,  jirovcd 
exceedingly  severe.  A  formidable  mutiny,  which  broke  out  at  this 
place,  was  suppressed  by  Magellan  with  great  pron  ptness  and  sever- 
ity; two  of  the  ringleaders  being  put  to  death,  and  a  third  set  on 
shore  to  perish.  For  two  months  none  of  the  natives  were  seen, 
but  one  day  a  man  of  gigantic  stature,  nearly  naked,  vvjis  seen  danc- 
ing violently  on  the  beach,  and  throwing  dust  on  his  head,  in  token 
of  friendship  or  submission.  Numbers  of  these  people,  all  of  great 
size,  soon  appeared,  "marvelling  vastly  to  see  such  large  ships  and 
such  little  men."  From  the  uncouth  covering  of  their  feet,  rudely 
shaped  from  the  hide  of  the  guanaco,  the  Spaniards  gave  them  the 
name  of  Patagones,  or  "clumsy-hoofed" — a  name  by  which  they 
have  ever  since  been  known.  One  of  them  learned  to  repeat  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  on  which  signal  evidence  of  conversion  he  was  bap- 
tized under  the  name  of  Juan  Gigante  ("John  Giant").  Two  of 
these  poor  savages  were  treacherously  seized,  as  curiosities;  but  a 
vile  stratagem  to  get  possession  of  some  of  the  women  (to  propagate 
a  breed  of  giants  in  Spain)  was  deservedly  defeated,  and  resulted 
in  the  death  of  one  of  the  invaders. 

The  Spring  came  on,  and  Magellan,  getting  his  little  squadron 
under  way,  again  stood  southward.  In  the  latter  part  of  Oct(;ber, 
to  his  great  exultation,  he  beheld  an  opening  in  the  westward  through 
the  iron-bound  coast  which  had  hitherto  seemed  interminable.  Into 
this  famous  strait,  which  still  bears  his  name,  favoured  by  a  strong 
current,  the  dauntless  discoverer,  with  three  ships,  boldly  pushed 
his  way — though  his  crews,  disheartened,  were  clamorous  for  I'eturn. 
lie  would  press  onward,  he  assured  them,  even  if  they  were  reduced 
to  eat  the  hides  from  the  ships'  rigging— an  anticipation  of  famine 
literally  fulfilled;  and  reminding  them  of  the  fate  of  the  late  muti- 
neers, sternly  repressed  all  opposition.     For  thirty-seven  days,  amid 


THE  SETTLEMENT  OP  THE  ISTHMUS. 
Storms  and  foul  weather   thf^  r+fi 

throng  tl.-s  perilous  and  ;nttatl:r^'"'  Tl''''  "^^^^^^ 
ber,  the  open  sea  was  seen  stretch  nTS^itaUvtV'''  f  '''^^^- 
gellan  burst  into  tears  of  iov  anri  ^^,"'^""^^^7  before  them.  Ma- 
the  memorable  event.        ^  ^'    ^^  "''^""^^  '  P^^lic  thanksgiving  for 

Having  stood  northward  awhile  i^      ■ 
the  httle  fleet  for  four  months  wa^^^^^^^^^^^  '  Tt  ^^""^^  «^-^*^. 
and  propitious,  that  the  name  of  the ''plf  "^  ^/.  ^'"'''^  ««  Bentll 
to  the  great  ocean  he  was  exnl  '"'    '"^^^'^^^  Magellan  gave 

But  famine  pressed ^rrib  ;t"t;rare1  ^^^^^  ^"-^'^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
secluded  from  the  possibihi  of  obtafn  ""'  ""''"'''''  «°  ^°"g 

the  16th  of  March,  1521  thev  nrl"     ?      ,^  '"PP"'^'  ^"^  when,  on 
ortheir  number  ^eredCaranrtS  "''''• '^^'^P'"^  ^^^^ 
•condition  of  suifering  and  ema'atiln   T""f  "^^^  ^'^  ^  ^-^-n 
islands  had  been  passed  in  thTs  W  J"^"'  *"  ''''''  «"^^  ^^o 
those  so  lonely  and  forbidding^  S  ann  """'''^'  ^^^^-"^'  ^^ 
name  of  DesvaUaduras,  or  the  TTnfn      ''PP'^'^"^^  ««  *«  receive  the 
the  ships  arrived  at  the  town  nn^hrrb"''".  ?""  ^'^  ''^  ^^  ^P^l! 
of  which  island  Magellan  soon  Joled.   "'  "'  ^^^"'  ^^^^^^  ^^e  prfnc 
WUh  the  customar'  .eal  for  co^™  st"  Z'^'^'^Y'^^^^^y  ^niance. 
propagatmg  the  faith,  and  by  a  mixtur'  JV"'"''^"*"'^  commenced 
gained  great  numbers  of  proseTt  s     Tl         ''  ''''  '"'^"^^'^^P'  -«- 
"^l-t  by  an  extraordinary  pef of  r.^" '"'"f"°^  ^^^^'^^^^^^ 
sovereign  of  Matan,  a  nei4boul     ?  T'''  ^"'^  hardihood.     The 
of  Zebu,  and  to  the\lcm  nd  of  S"' '',"1 ''  ^^'^  -^h  the  king 
"to  and  allegiance  to  Spain,  re  urnST     1  '^  ^'""'^  ^'^'^  '^'■ 
-ce  and  irritable,  and'no;  C "d  ,4]!"'  '^  "'"''^^-     ^^^^"^^'^^ 
fiery  Portuguese  determined  to  end  T  '"""'  '"^  ''^'"'^'^'«"'  «^e 
^^>;h  forty-nine  of  his  bravest  mniT''"""  ''''^  '^''  «^™rd. 
"^-''^'^^-clingon  the  reWy Ihnd       '^  ""^^^^^^  ^^™«-'  ^^ 
-Perate  conflict  with  a  force  ofThret  tit "'  T"  ""^  "'°"°^'^  ^ 
was  ob.tmately  contested  for  manvTn  '^  T''^'''     ^^'^^^  ^^^^ttle 

powered  by  numbers,  were  .t  l^^T^n  \^''  '^''  ^"^P'-^''''-^''^^^-  over- 

ti-ugh  wounded  by  'a  poL     r^roTfl  ^'-f T  "•^^'-     ^<-"-. 

oft,contuu,cdtofightwithdesp  r    r;I-    r''  '"/"''"^"'  ^^^^^ 
he  was  beaten  (o  the  CTonn,^  J  J'^^'°"'  ""til,  his  sword  arm  disabled 

vivors,  with  difficulty  reJn  !'/.!•  ^7  ^^^"^''^  ^vounded.     TJie  sur- 
r^'-od  the  boldest  ;:^:^^^:r^-^^;-bi«  obscure  skirnS 

fortunate  of  that  brilliant  lin    ot'n.yfJt        \  '''''""'^'  '^'^  ^""^^ 

ot  navigators  who  succeeded  to  the 


100 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTOKY, 


honours  of  Columbus.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  had  nearly 
completed  the  circumnavigation  of  the  globe,  having  in  a  former 
voyage,  sailed  far  to  the  eastward. 

The  king  of  Zebu,  seeing  the  misfortune  of  his  allies,  took  ad- 
vantage to  commit  a  treacherous  massacre  on  a  number  of  them, 
whom  he  had  enticed  into  his  palace,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
Spaniards,  in  precipitate  alarm,  hastened  their  departure  from  the 
island.  Only  one  vessel  of  the  fleet,  the  Vitoria.  a  little  bark  of 
sixty  tons,  succeeded  in  completing  this  extraordinary  voyage.  After 
a  cruise  of  three  years,  during  which  she  traversed  fifty  thousand 
miles  of  ocean,  this  slender  craft,  with  the  mere  remnant  of  a  crew, 
on  the  6th  of  September,  1522,  arrived  at  San  Lucar.  She  was 
drawn  ashore,  and  remained  for  many  years  a  monument  of  the 
most  remarkable  achievement  of  the  century.  Her  commander, 
Sebastian  del  Cano,  inheriting,  as  survivor,  the  honours  due  to 
the  unfortunate  Magellan,  was  ennobled  by  the  emperor,  and  received 
for  his  arms  the  device  of  a  globe,  with  the  memorable  legend: 

"PKIMUS   ME   CIRCUMDEDISTl," 
{Thou  first  hasl  encompassed  me.) 


CONQUEST  AWD  HISTORY  OF  MEIICO. 


'CHAPTER   L 

PROOllESS  OF  SPANISH  CONQUEST.  — DISCO  VERT  OF  YUCATAN 

—OF  MEXICO.— HERNANDO  CORTES.  — HIS  EXPEDITION 

—  ASCENT  OF  THE  RIO  DE  TABASCO.  — CONTESTS  WITH 

THE  INDIANS.— ARRIVAL  AT  SAN  JUAN  DE  ULUA. 

The  singular  compound  of  crusading  fanaticism  and  of  practical 
rapacity  which  distinguished  the  Spaniards  in  their  conquest  of  the 
New  World,  as  well  as  the  wonderfully-rapid  successes  which  those 
traits,  so  repulsively  mingled,  insured  them,  are  hardly  to  be  paral- 
leled, except  in  the  early  career  of  Mahometanism.    With  the  sword 
in  one  hand  and  the  missal  in  the  other,  leaving  crosses  and  stakes 
the  tokens  of  his  march,  the  Spaniard  pressed  on  to  plunder,  to  con- 
quest, and  conversion,  with  a  fierceness  and  inflexibility  which,  to 
tins  day,  have  left  their  withering  traces  on  the  entire  scene  of  action. 
The  feeble  and  unwarlike  races  of  the  archipelago  had  fallen  an  easy 
prey  before  the  invader;  his  footsteps  were  firmly  planted  on  the 
main-land;  and  in  rapid  succession  the  two  great  native  empires  of 
the  Northern  and  Southern  Continents-empires  strong  in  ancient 
rule,  and  for  advanced  in  civilization— were  destined  to  vanish  from 
the  earth  witli  a  suddenness  and  a  horror  which,  at  this  day,  must 
surprise  and  appal  the  historical  spectator. 

The  island  of  Cuba,  first  colonized  in  1511,  had  been  settled  with 
extraordinary  rapidity,  and  the  ever-restless  adventurers  began  soon 
to  look  around  for  wider  fields  of  conquest,  and  richer  objects  of 
plunder.  Ilenandez  de  Cordova,  in  1517,  sailing  to  the  Bahamas  in 
quest  of  slaves  to  replace  the  half-depopulated  tribes  of  that  island 
was  driven  westward  by  gales,  and  finally  made  land  at  Cape  Catoche' 
in  \  ucatan.     Ara..sive  buildings,  and  other  evidences  of  civilization 


102 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HI8T0BY. 


were  observed,  but  the  discoverers,  every  where  fiercely  withstood 
by  the  natives,  were  compelled  to  quit  the  coast,  and,  after  losing 
more  than  half  their  number,  regained  the  shores  of  Cuba.  In  tlie 
following  year  (May  1st,  1518)  Velasquez,  the  Cuban  governor,  dis- 
patched four  vessels,  under  his  nephew,  Juan  de  Grijalva,  iu  the 
same  direction.  That  officer,  after  touching  at  the  island  of  Cozu- 
mel,  coasted  along  the  great  southern  peninsula,  meeting,  wherever 
he  landed,  a  fierce  and  determined  resistance  from  the  inhabitants. 
Keeping  westward,  he  arrived  on  the  shores  of  Mexico,  and  engaged 
in  friendly  traffic  with  the  people  of  that  country.  Gold  and  jewels 
were  obtained  in  abundance,  and  after  a  voyage  of  six  months,  in 
which  a  large  extent  of  the  main-land  coast  had  been  explored,  the 
squadron  returned  to  Cuba.  Stimulated  by  this  success,  and  by  the 
flattering  accounts  of  Grijalva,  the  governor  proceeded  to  fit  out  an 
expedition  on  a  more  extensive  scale. 

Hernando  Cortes,  to  whom  he  had  resolved  to  entrust  the  com- 
mand, was  a  native  of  Medellin,  in  Estramadura,  and  was,  at  this 
time,  thirty-three  years  of  age.     From  boyhood,  he  had  been  of  a 
reckless,  adventurous  disposition,  and,  at  tlie  age  of  nineteen,  had 
sailed  for  Hispaniola  to  seek  his  fortune.     Arrived  there,  he  was 
kindly  received  by  the  governor,  Ovando,  who  offered  him  a  tract 
of  land.     "I  came  to  get  gold,"  replied  the  haughty  and  rapacious 
youth,  "not  to  till  the  soil  like  a  peasant."     He  accepted  the  grant, 
however,  with  its  accustomed  quota  of  Indian  slaves,  and  was  fre- 
•  quently  engaged,  under  Velasquez,  in  the  defeat  and  enslavement  of 
the  insurgent  natives.     He  accompanied  that  commander,  in  1512, 
on  the  conquest  of  Cuba,  and  acquired,  by  mining  and  planting,  con- 
siderable prop:  rty.      During  his  residence  on  that  island,  he  was 
alternately  under  the  favour  and  displeasure  of  his  chief,  who,  at 
one  time,  it  is  said,  was  so  enraged  against  him  as  to  have  been  on 
the  point  of  ordering  his  execution.     They  became  reconciled,  how- 
ever, Cortes  embarking  all  his  means  in  the  projected  enterprise, 
and  Velasquez,  acquainted  with  his  courage  and  abilities,  assuring 
him  of  the  command.     Under  tlie  stimulus  of  ambition  and  oppor- 
tunity, his  character,  marked  before  by  levity,  sensuality,  and  rash- 
ness, underwent  a  marked  change;  and  all  the  extraordinary  faculties 
of  energy,  policy,  and  perseverance,  hitherto  latent,  took  the  com- 
plete ascendency. 

So  splendid  appeared  the  anticipated  prize,  tlial  the  colonists  of 
the  island,  though  hardly  settled  in  their  new  possessions,  flocked  in 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTOKY   OF  MEXICO.  103 

great  numbers  to  his  standard.     Three  hundred  volunteers  were 
soon  assembled  in  the  town  of  St.  Jago,  and  preparations  were  rTade 
wub  great  eagerness  and  abandonment.     "Nothing  was  to  be  s^en  " 
says  one  of  tne  company,  "or  spoken  of,  but  selling  lands  to  pu;ch  "se 
arms  and  horses,  quilting  coats  of  mail,  making  bread  and  ,nU 
pork,  for  sea-stores."     Instructions  were'  made  Lt^^C^j:"^^^^ 
enjommg  the  conversion  of  the  natives  and  the  furtherance  of  traf- 
fic with  them     They  were  also  to  be  invited  to  give  in  theh-  aU e 
glance  to  his  Most  Catholic  Majesty,  "and  to  manifest  it  l^TeHl 
him  with  such  comfortable  presents  of  gold,  pearls,  and  pr^cli^: 

But,  when  all  was  ready,  Velasquez,  of  an  irritable  and  iealous 
disposition,,  was  sei.ed  with  a  sudden  distrust  of  his  officer   and 
resolved  to  deprive  him  of  the  command.     Cortes    apnrred  nf \ 
nitention   with  all  haste  got  his  squadron  under  .^V  ^nd Te,  sa  ul 
n^dnight,   he  enraged  governor  arriving  on  the  shore  just Une 
t    witness  his  departure.    He  touched  at  several  points  on  th    coast 
strengt  ening  his  forces  and  equipment,  and  on  the  10th  of  Feb 
ruary,  lol9,  sailed  from  Havana  for  Cape  San  Antonio     There  he 
.-as  joined  by  fresh  reinforcements,  the  whole  command  con 'i   in. 
e  even  vessels,  manned  by  six   hundred  and  sixty-three  ^e" 

iet;-^:::rslt:;a^^^^^^^ 

AttheislandofCozumel,  where  thev  first  arrivpri  tl,    a       •    j 

^  enci  atcd  idol,  and  replaced  it  with  a  statue  of  the  Virgin      On  tho 
of  March,  the  fleet  again  set  sail,  and  soon  arrived  a  "lie  Roe 
labasco,  near  the  southern  extremity  of  the  gulf.     This     ver  Co 

es,  with  a  part  of  his  army,  ascended  in  boat!,  and,  o  tl  s  cond 
day  was  encountered  by  a  great  body  of  India'ns,  d'nl ^  Tt  ' 
bank  to  oppose  his  passage  and  defend  their  town  of  Tabasco  A 
notary  public  made  solemn  proclamation  that  the  exi^di  on  w^ 

on  Cod  s  service  and  the  King's,"  and  invoked  on  theSs  of  Z 
-tivos  the  responsibility  of  a  contest-" all  which,"  s^    C^t^ 


lOi 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


Diaz,*  "being  duly  explained  to  tliem,  produced  no  effect;  they 
seemed  as  determined  to  oppose  us  as  they  were  before."  They  were 
defeated,  after  a  pretty  sharp  resistance,  by  the  novel  terror  of  fire- 
arms, and  the  town  was  taken  by  the  v  ictors ;  but  to  their  great  disgust, 
all  the  treasure  had  been  removed  before  their  arrival.  Cortes,  with 
much  form,  took  possession  of  the  country,  drawing  his  sword  and 
giving  three  cuts  upon  a  great  Ceiba-tree,  and  vowing  to  defend  the 
claim  of  the  Spanish  monarch  against  all  opponents. 

Learning  that  a  great  force  of  Indians  was  assembled  on  the  neigh- 
bouring plain  of  Ceutla,  he  resolved,  by  striking  the  first  blow,  to 
inspire  terror  through  the  country.  Horses  and  artillery  were  accord- 
ingly landed,  and,  on  the  25th  of  March,  he  set  forth  against  the 
hostile  camp.  The  main  body,  defiling  over  a  long  causeway,  en- 
gaged the  enemy  in  front,  while  Cortes,  with  the  slender  squadron 
of  cavalry,  drew  a  circuit  to  attack  them  in  the  rear.  The  Indians 
fought  with  desperation  for  more  than  an  hour,  to  the  rude  and  dis- 
cordant music  of  conchs,  flutes  of  cane,  and  drums  hollowed  from 
the  trunks  of  trees;  and  flung  clouds  of  dust  into  the  air  to  conceal 
the  havoc  which  the  cannon  made  in  their  crowded  ranks.  But  when 
taken  in  the  rear  by  the  novel  and  terrible  apparition  of  armed 
horsemen,  sheathed  in  glittering  steel,  charging  among  them,  a  gen- 
eral panic  seized  the  whole  multitude.  The  infantry  renewed  their 
exertions,  and  the  unwieldy  mass  of  the  Indian  army  was  soon  com- 
pelled to  a  flight  which  it  was  considered  imprudent  to  follow. 
This  signal  victory  was  ascribed  by  some  contemporary  histori- 
ans to  the  personal  exertions  of  St.  Jago,  the  patron  of  Spanish 
conquest.  Others  held  that  the  achievement  was  due  to  St.  Peter; 
but  honest  Diaz,  who  was  present,  says,  "  it  might  be  the  case,  and 
I,  sinner  as  I  am,  was  not  worthy  to  be  permitted  to  see  it.  *  * 
But  although  I,  unworthy  sinner  that  I  am,  was  unfit  to  behold 
either  of  those  Holy  Apostles — upwards  of  four  hundred  of  us  were 
present ;  let  their  testimony  be  taken." 

Ere  long,  the  caciques  of  the  vanquished  nation,  completely  over- 
awed, presented  themselves  at  the  camp,  bearing  propitiatory  offer- 
ings, and  tendering  the  submission  of  their  people.  They  were  filled 
with  wonder  at  all  which  they  beheld — the  strange  persons  and 
accoutrements  of  the  inv.idcrs,  the  terrible  power  of  the  cavalrv, 
and  the  mystic  celebration  of  Catholic  ceremony.    To  the  inquisitive 

*  A  soldier  distinguished  in  the  Wnrs  of  the  Conquest,  His  Memoirs  are  among 
the  most  valuable,  as  well  as  amusing,  of  all  original  histories. 


L 


THE   CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  MEXICO.'  iQo 

demands  of  the  Spaniards   concerning  the   region   of  gold,   they 
answered,  pointing  to  the  west,  "Culchua"  and  "  Mexico  "_a  name 
destined  to  a  wide  and  unhappy  celebrity 
Coasting  westward,  after  this  triumph,  "the  expedition  arrived  at 

r"  t-t  ^r  *^"'"  '^'  ^^""'  "PP°^^^^  *'^«  P^«««»t  «ite  of  Vera 
Cruz.  _\\ih  the  natives  of  this  place,  who,  conciliated  by  the  for- 
mer visi  of  Grijalva,  came  off  in  numbers  to  the  ships,  Cortes  was 
enabled  to  communicate  by  the  double  interpretation  of  a  Spaniard 
once  resident  with  the  Indians  of  the  South,  and  of  Donna  Marba 

T.tr"s"     '  "''  '''  '^^'^  S^^^^  ^-^  by  the  caciques  o 
Tabasco.     She  was  young  and  beautiful,  and  of  remarkable  intelli- 
gence,  soon  acquiring  such  a  knowledge  of  Castilian  as  to  spare  the 
necessity  of  a  second  interpreter.     She  became  the  mistress  of  Cortes 
to  whom  she  bore  a  son,  and  in  all  the  eventful  scenes  which  d^sS 
guished  the  conquest,  bore  a  conspicuous  part,  as  his  interprete  Id 
companion.     But  before  proceeding  to  a  narration  of  thT  cer" 
at  IS  proper  to  give  some  account  of  that  singular  nation,  the  fit 
and,  with  one  other  exception,  the  only  people  encountered  by  S 
opeans  m  the  New  World,  possessed  of  regular  government  illus 
trated  by  national  history,  and  adorned  with  the  afts  of  cSatn 


CHAPTEH   II. 

THE    MEXICAN    ABORIOI  NES.-TH  EIR    ORIGIN    AND 
APPEAKANCE.-THEIR  GOVERNMENT.  ll\oj 
OOY,  MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 

eret,  01  Amenca  first  held  mtercourse,  that  the  early  l,i»twTu„  .,f 
be  C„„,„e,^  i|,e  H-ca  partaker,  h^  the  enterprise  w  e  "  1„^ 
or     ,,g,,age  ,     ,h,  ,,  .„  ,,,„^^,  ^,^.^  admirajion.'  'I        ,  ,        " 

r;::-r„f ':,:■ 'r;::r j':,""''"^  'r ''"'°  "^""  ^- 

mviiL  *•  T  ""o'"i  '^"^1  ot  the  rise  and  progress  of  their 

iicxieo,    and  that,  after  a  period  of  power  and 


106 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


prosperity,  bhey  became  reduced  by  pestilence  and  other  causes, 
and  were  succeeded  or  driven  off  by  the  barbarous  Chichimecas. 
Tliese,  in  turn,  gave  place  to  the  seven  tribes  of  the  Nahuatlacas,  to 
which  nation  belonged  the  tribe  of  the  Aztecs,  the  possessors  of  the 
country  at  the  period  of  European  discovery.  The  foundation  of 
their  capital  upon  the  lake  was  commenced,  according  to  their  chro- 
nology, ,in  the  year  1325. 

The  Aztecs,  like  their  predecessors,  came  originally  from  the  north, 
and  in  their  gradual  progress  southward  formed  many  temporary 
settlements  upon  the  route — at  least  the  character  of  the  ruins  still 
to  be  seen  between  tlie  Valley  and  the  borders  of  Upper  California 
appears  to  corroborate  the  national  tradition  of  the  migration. 

Of  their  general  physical  conformation,  the  following  brief  descrip- 
tion, given  by  Pritchard,  in  his  Natural  History  of  Man,  from  Cla- 
vigero,  will  sufHce:  "The  Mexicans  are  of  a  good  stature,  generally 
rather  exceeding  than  falling  short  of  the  middle  size,  and  well  pro- 
portioned in  all  their  limbs.  They  have  good  complexions,  narrow 
foreheads,  black  eyes,  clean,  firm,  regular  white  teeth ;  thick,  black, 
coarse,  glossy  hair;  thin  beards;  and  generally  no  hair  upon  their 
legs,  thighs,  and  arms:  their  skin  is  of  an  olive  colour. 

"There  is  scarcely  a  nation  upon  earth  in  which  there  are  fewer 
persons  deformed;  and  it  would  be  more  diJRcult  to  find  a  single 
hump-backed,  lame,  or  squint-eyed  man  among  a  thousand  ^Mexicans 
than  among  a  hundred  of  any  other  nation.  Among  the  young 
women  of  Mexico,  there  are  many  very  beautiful  and  fair;  whose 
beauty  is  rendered  more  attractive  by  the  sweetness  and  natural 
modesty  of  their  behaviour." 

Their  mental  caj)acity  was,  without  doubt,  greatly  superior  to  that 
of  the  wilder  races  of  North  America.  Their  architectural  skill 
and  their  proficiency  in  the  mechanic  arts  gave  proof  of  no  small 
measure  of  ingenuity,  industry,  and  enterprise,  and  notwithstanding 
the  ferocious  cruelty  and  loathsome  cannibalism  attendant  upon  their 
strange  system  of  religion,  they  evinced,  in  many  respects,  a  refine- 
ment, a  moral  purity,  and  an  intuitive  perception  of  the  proprieties 
of  life,  superior  to  that  of  their  European  contemporaries.  A  gen- 
eral idea  of  the  national  character  and  customs  can  be  gathered  from 
the  detail  of  the  events  of  the  conquest. 

The  sui'cession  to  the  crown  was  not  entirely  hereditary,  but 
depended  upon  the  decision  of  four  electors,  from  among  the  nobles, 
who  were  to  decide  which  of  the  deceased  monarch's  brothers,  or 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTOEY  OF  MEXICO.  107 

nephews  should  be  dovated  to  the  vacant  office;  a  peculiarity  so 
far  as  regards  the  exclusion  of  lineal  descendants,  singukrly  ur  form 
among  the  aborigines  of  America.  "x  y  unnorm 

There  appears  to  have  existed  a  body  of  powerful  nobles  each 
despotic  within  his  own  district,  who  held  their  estates  or  offiL  by 
a  feudal  tenure  of  military  .service.     The  king  ori-^inated  Tkwf 
Init  the  chief  magistrates,  or  judges  to  whom  was  confid  d    ^  i' 
adimnistra  ion,  although  appointed  by  the  crown,  held  office  for  li^ 
and  from  their  decision  there  was  no  appeal.     The  crimina    cod<; 
was  severe,  and  severely  enforced;  many  offences  generally  In ^^ 
red  as  venial  being  punishable  by  death.     As  far  as  can  be  gaZ  I 
from  the  uncertain  accounts  of  the  old  historians,  an  estab lisle 
onlc.  and  system  was  observable  in  the  whole  mach  n  ^  of  gov    n^^ 
men,  m  the  collection  of  revenue,  and  the  administration  of  thriaws 
The  sp  endour  of  the  monarch's  court,  with  the  punctiliou    et  " 
quette  and  wearisome  ceremonial  by  which  he  mainfain  d   Id  l- 
mty,  are  described  at  great  length  in  the  early  accounts  of  M  ^d  o 
Ivo  prince  ever  exacted  or  received  more  obsequious  homage  from 
his  nobles  and  attendants;  and,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  the  e  sub 
ordinates  were  not  behind-hand  in  ostentation  and  parad     n    he 
presence  of  their  inferiors.  ^  ^"  ^^® 

In  the  Mexican  system  of  religion  and  religious  eeremoni-d 
^vere  seen  the  strangest  incongruities  and  contrad^cSoi^  iTs"  e n 
particulars  most  striking  coincidences  appeared  between  theiTform 
of  worslnp  and  their  code  of  morals,  and  those  of  the  Chr  t  In  relT 
g|on,  in  hideous  contrast  to  which  stands  out  their  horr  io  s  oni 
of  human  sacrifice  and  cannibalism.  The  extent  to  whi  h  ^1  i  v 
practiced  cannot  now  be  correctly  ascertained:  early     ompti. 

exacted  from  some  subordinate  ldncrrIr.rr/„  ■ 

nient  for  national  ofroncer  °  "''  P'"""'^''  ''  '"^  «^-'^- 

At  tlie  celebration  of  any  great  occurrence,  as  the  domi.e  of  th. 

™v.ws  n,.,  have  ,„iiv:  T^^z^zx:z'r'r""'i 

<iepo.it  devoted  e.c,u.ive„  .„  „,e  .ij^:^^^     fZ^ 


108 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF   IIiaTORY. 


L 


variety  of  ceremonials  preceded  the  ordinary  performance  of  this 
religious  rite,  but  the  mode  of  death  was  conunonly  the  same.  At  the 
summit  of  the  pyramidal  temple,  where  was  enshrined  the  image  of 
the  deity  to  which  it  was  devoted,  the  victim  was  stretched  upon  a 
large  block  of  stone,  and  there  held  by  the  assistant  priests,  while  the 
chief  official  cut  open  his  breast  with  a  sharp  stone,  and  tore  out 
the  heart. 

The  body  was  afterwards  prepared  for  food,  and  devoured  with 
much  ceremony  at  a  grand  entertainment.  "This  was  not,"  says 
Prescott,  "the  coarse  repnst  of  famished  cannibals,  but  a  banquet 
teeming  with  delicious  beverages  and  delicate  viands,  prepared  with 
art  and  attended  by  both  sexes,  who,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter,  con- 
ducted themselves  with  all  the  decorum  of  civilized  life.  Surely, 
never  were  refinement  and  the  extreme  of  barbarism  brought  so 
closely  in  contact  with  each  other!"  De  Solis  speaks  of  the  "Kites 
and  Ceremonies  of  these  miserable  Heathens,"  as  "shocking  and 
horrible  both  to  Reason  and  Nature — incongruous,  stupid  Absurdi- 
ties, which  seemed  altogether  incompatible  with  the  Regularity  and 
admirable  Oeconomy  which  was  observed  in  the  other  parts  of  that 
government;  and  would  scarce  be  believed,  were  not  Uistories  full 
of  Examples  of  the  like  Weaknesses  and  Errors  of  Human  Capacities 
in  other  Nations,  who  are  no  less  blind,  tho'  in  Parts  of  the  World 
where  they  have  the  Means  of  being  more  enlighten'd." 

'Jlie  Aztecs  had  no  system  of  writing,  except  by  the  hieroglyphic 
paintings  and  symbols  so  generally  adopted  by  a  semi-barbarous 
people,  'i'hese  were  executed  upon  skins,  cotton  cloth,  or  a  species 
of  {)aper;  and  great  numbers  of  books  and  rolls  containing  the 
rocoids  of  the  empire  were  carefully  preserved,  until  they  were  mostly 
involved  in  the  universal  destruction  consequent  upon  the  success  of 
the  Spaniards.  Those  which  still  exist  have  been  subjected  to  care- 
ful and  critical  investigation,  and  although  the  key  to  most  of  them 
is  lost,  probably  beyond  hope  of  recovery,  some  light  has  been  thrown 
upon  Mexican  history  and  civilization  by  the  rude  devices  whose 
meaning  Ims  been  partially  deciphered. 

'i'iie  astronomical  attainments  of  the  natives  were  extremely  limited  • 
so  mucli  so  as  to  excite  surprise  when  compared  with  the  wonderful 
accuracy  of  their  chronological  cycles.  They  had  devised  a  system 
of  computation  by  which  the  length  of  the  year  was  so  precisely 
defined  that,  according  to  Prescott,  "more  than  five  centuries  must 
elapse  before  the  loss  of  an  entire  day.     Such  was  the  astonishing 


I 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  IIISTOKY   OK   MEXICO.  ^jQ 

precision  disjjlnyed  by  the  Aztecs,  or,  porliaps,  by  their  pioro  pol- 
islicd  Tolteo  predecessors,  in  these  computations,  sd  difficult  iia  to 
liave  badled,  till  a  comparatively  recent  period,  the  most  enlightened 
nations  of  Christendom." 

In  the  mechanic  arts  they  had  made  great  proncicney;  labouring 
under  the  disadvantage  of  entire  ignorance  of  the  use  of  iron,  and 
compelled  to  resort  to  an  alloy  of  copper,  tin,  &c.,  they  erected 'such 
massive  edifices  of  hewn  stone  as  to  astonisli  those  familiar  with  the 
magnificent  monuments  of  the  old  world.     Enormous  masses  of  rock 
were  transported  from  quarries  many  miles  distant  from  the  edifices 
for  whose  construction  they  were  prepared,  and  this  without  the  aid 
of  beasts  of  burden.     To  the  skill  of  the  Mexican  goldsmiths  and 
lapidaries  the  contemporary  artisans  of  Europe  bore  witness,  eon- 
fussing  their  own  inferiority  in  certain  branches  of  the  profession. 
The  extraordinary  beauty  of  workmansliip  which  enhanced  the  value 
of  their  plundered  treasures,  excited  admiration  even  at  the  court 
of  Spain, 

Although  polygamy  was  allowed,  the  tie  of  marriage  was  deemed 
as  sacred  among  the  Aztecs  as  with  the  Christian  nations  of  Europe 
and  tlie  women  were  generally  treated  with  a  respect  and  tenderness 
unknown  in  a  purely  barbarous  community.  Slavery  was  one  of 
the  established  institutions  of  the  country,  but  the  master  was  not 
allowed  an  absolute  power  over  the  servant,  whose  privileges  were 
secured  by  many  restrictive  provisions  of  the  laws.  It  seems  that 
no  small  number  of  those  who  occupied  this  inferior  position  entered 
upon  It  voluntarily  for  the  sake  of  securing  a  maintenance,  and 
among  the  poor,  many  relieved  themselves  from  the  burden  of  sup- 
porting  a  family  by  a  sale  of  their  children. 

The  trade  of  the  country  was  carried  on  altogether  by  travellin'r 
merchants-a  class  of  pedlers  occupying  a  position  very  differen° 
froni  that  of  the  present  day.  The  goods  were  borne  upon  the  backs 
ol  s  ayes,  themselves  a  most  important  portion  of  the  investment. 
OoJd-dust,  cacao-nuts,  and  a  species  of  tin  coin  served  as  the  meiiium 
of  currency  f  but  trading  operations  were  extensively  conducted 
by  barter  and  exchange.  Very  numerous  articles  of  luxury  and 
comiort-such  as  rich  cloths,  feather-work,  manufactures  from  the 
precious  metals,  &c.-were  in  universal  use  among  the  wealthier 
members  of  society.  The  variety  and  excellence  of  their  cookery 
and  the  sumptuous  display  at  their  feasts  and  entertainments,  form  a 
copious  theme  fur  the  Spanish  narrators.     Drinking  and  smokin- 


110 


TIIE   PKOPLE'S    HOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


were  luxurioH  generally  indulged  in,  hut  the  inteniporato  use  of  even 
the  mild  fertiionted  liquor  which  they  niftnufactured  was  guarded 
against  by  nevero  penalties.  These  restrictiona  were,  however,  con- 
fined to  the  young. 

Among  the  Mexican  Indian  population  of  the  present  day  we  look 
in  vain  for  the  national  pride,  ferocity,  energy,  and  ingenuity  of  their 
ancestors.  Centuries  of  slavery  and  suhordinatiori  to  the  European 
have  denationalized  them,  and  certain  j.hysical  peculiarities  alono 
remain  to  mark  them  as  the  descendants  of  the  wonderful  people 
whoso  habits  wo  have  thus  briefly  sketched. 


CHAPTEH   III. 


THE  EMI'KJiOll  MONTEZUMA.  —  LAXDINO  OP  THE  SPANIARDS.— 
THKIK  XEOOTIATFOX  WITH  M  0  X  T  EZ  U  M  A.  — H  IS  IMPOLICY.— 
SPLENDID  PRESENTS.— CORTES  REVOLTS  AGAINST  VELAS- 
QUEZ.—  FORMS  AN  ALLIANCE  WITH  THE  TOTONACS. 

DESTROYS  THEIR  IDOLS.— SETS  FORTH  FOR  MEXICO. 

The  throne  of  the  Aztec  empire,  at  this  time,  was  held  by  Jkfon- 
tezuma,  renowned,  beyond  any  other  of  the  native  American  race, 
for  a  life  marked  by  strange  vicissitudes  and  a  most  melancholy  fate! 
On  the  decease  of  his  uncle,  in  1502,  he  had  been  elected  to  the 
sovereignty  in  acknowledgment  of  his  services  in  war  and  his  devo- 
tion to  the  national  theology— a  theology  whoso  mystical  tenets  and 
sanguinary  rites  were  intimately  blended  with  the  entire  system  of 
Mexican  government  and  polity.     His  name,  signifying  the  "sad" 
or  "severe,"  was  derived  from  the  grave  and  melancholy  expression 
of  his  countenance,  an  expression  natural  enough  to  the  rvrncst 
devotee  of  a  religion  so  dark  and  cruel.     The  military  genius  of  tl.e 
young  emperor  soon  extended  his  sway  over  wider  regions  of  Ana- 
huac*  than  had  been  ruled  by  the  greatest  of  his  predecessors;  and 
the  justice  of  his  administration,  and  the  great  public  improvements 
which  he  planned,  equally  evinced  his  talents  for  poli(-  and  gov- 

♦.  *  J,''''rT  *''"  ""f''"  "PPe""tion  of  iUo:.    cvtensive  regionsslnce  iu.a.ded  under 
till)  title  of  New  Spain. 


•f 


THE  CONQUEST  AND   ItlSTOKY  OK 


MEXICO. 


ernment.     But  liia  domninH, 
grown  HO  grettt,  nnd  were  con 

n.s  to 


111 


contimially  cxtetiilcd  by  conquortt,  had 

Togencuns  rnnterials, 

rcjircasitni  of 


iiIKxsoilof.such  Ir'U 


nMiu.r<,  a  largo  standing  army  and  the  frequent  rcprms.on  ot 
.UHm-recfons;  and  tho  Axt.-c  .,„,,ir.,  „ot  yet  conHolidatJ.l  by  timo 
and  anUa.Mmg  tl.o  dements  of  dinorder  witl.in,  was  ill  fitted  to  with! 
stand  any  vigorous  nsaaidt  from  without 

On  tho  2Lst  of  April   1519,  the  Spanish  army  disembarked  on  a 
8and>  beach,  the  s,tc  of  the  present  V.ra  Cruz,  and  tho  general 
pn.ently  reccved  a  v.sit  from  T.uhtUo,  the  ehief  eacique  of  the 
u;l,..n.,.g  region      Ceremonious  courtesies  were  interchanged,  and 
Cor   s    niormed  h.s  v.s.tor,  that  tho  great  king  of  Spain  ha  1  lis- 
patched  Imn  to   he  .-  n.,y  with  presents  and  a  message  fcr  its  scv- 
orcgn.      I  he  e  net   expressed  surprise  on  hearing  tlmt  there  w  s 
another  monareh  equal  in  power  to  his  master,  the  great  Moute.u    a 
but  prouused  h.s  good  oflices,  and  bestowed  on  the  strangers  sple    1  id 
present,  beautdully  wrought  ir.  gold  and  other  n.aterials.     A  "    I 
Idtry  ollermg,  m  con.purison,  was  all  that  the  Spanianls  eould  d  s 
l..^h  to  the  court  of  Mexico;  and  with  it  Te.itile  sen^"^  ^ 
l-tures,  drawn  and  coloured  by  native  artists,  of  the  ships,  the      n- 

Z'elnp^r'  ^'"'■°^"  ''^"'^'^^^^^'  ^^*'-  '-l-^'""  <'f 

The  visit  of  Grijalva,  faithfully  reported  by  the  caciques  whom 

e  encou'tered,  had  produced  a  ,leep  and  alarming  impression  o 

U,e  nund  of  Monte.un.a.     There  was  an  ancient  predic  io  ,  f    ^ 

b    oved  m  Anahuae,  that  Quet.aleoatl,  the  founder  of  the  Ate 

ehgon  and  government,  a  deity  of  fair  complexion  and  )CZ 

ji..  0/ nature  had  at4::d^rmh:;;:j;:i;:f:^^^^ 

by  Ins  express  orders  that,  on  the  landing  of  the  seco.u  'eo  "  .,1  o7 

to  s  n,ulate  the.r  rapacity,  curiosity,  and  ambitiqn,  to  the  ulost  ^ 

The  nnperud  capital  of  Tenochtitlan,  or  Mexico,  1  v  seven tvW^es 

.    n  the  coast ;  yet  eight  days  after  the  news  w;.s  ais^^^Z 

^  era  Cru,  an  .nbassy  fron.  the  Aztec  sovereign,  acc'on.pa  iod  by 


112 


TIJK  I'EOrLE'S   «OOIC  OF  IIISTOKY. 


II  liuiidrocl  slaves,  bearing  splendid  presents,  entered  the  Spanish 
camp.  The  beauty  and  value  of  these  royal  gifts  are  described  in 
glowing  terms  by  contemporary  writers,  especially  those  who  beheld 
tlicm.  They  consisted  of  fabrics  admirably  worked  in  cotton  and 
variegated  feathers,  mingled  with  gems;  of  gold  and  silver  skilfully 
wrought  into  the  shape  of  animals,  &c. ;  and  es})ecially  of  a  great 
golden  sun,  as  large  as  a  carriage-wheel,  beautifully  flishioncd,  and 
worth,  according  to  the  value  of  the  metal  in  that  day,  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  million  dollars  of  the  present  currency.  A  courteous 
message  was  likewise  delivered  to  the  strangers,  declining  a  visit, 
and  politely  suggesting  their  return. 

Cortcii,  with  mingled  exultation  and  disappointment,  received  the 
gifts,  and  the  accompanying  repulse;  but,  with  his  accustomed  per- 
severance, sent  by  the  returning  ambassadors  a  new  present  (miser- 
ably small  compared  with  the  magnificent  offerings  of  the  emperor) 
and  a  renewed  request  for  permission  to  visit  the  court.  A  positive 
denial,  softened,  however,  by  additional  presents,  was  returned ;  and 
the  Spanish  leader,  turning  to  his  officers,  said  coldly,  "Truly  this  is 
a  great  monarch  and  a  rich — by  God's  permission  we  must  see  him." 

Before  the  next  morning  the  Spanish  camp  was  entirely  deserted 
by  the  Indians.  Thirty  of  his  people,  encamped  on  a  spot,  reeking, 
even  at  the  present  day,  with  pestilence  and  death,  had  already  per- 
ished ;  and  Cortes  resolved  to  seek  out  a  more  favourable  locality. 
To  his  great  joy,  an  embassy  presently  arrived  from  the  Totonacs, 
a  powerful  tribe  lately  subdued  by  the  Aztecs,  inviting  him  to  visit 
their  capital  of  Cempoalla.  An  important  and  hazardous  experi- 
ment, however,  was  first  to  be  attempted. 

Whatever  good  faith  to  his  patron  and  coadjutor  he  might  have 
cherished  at  the  commencement  of  the  enterprise,  had  been  over- 
come by  the  value  of  the  anticipated  prize;  and  he  had  resolved  to 
disown  even  a  nominal  allegiance  to  Velasquez  in  the  wealthy  region 
which  he  proposed  to  conquer.  The  soldiers,  by  his  machinations, 
were  induced  to  throng  around  his  tent,  and  demand  the  foundation 
of  a  settlement.  With  aftectcd  reluctance,  he  assented,  and,  having 
formally  resigned  his  commission  received  from  the  governor,  was 
forthwith  elected  (by  the  officers  and  magistrates  of  his  own  appoint- 
ment) as  Captain-General  of  tue  new  colony  of  Vera  Cruz.  The 
immediate  friends  and  partisans  of  Valasquez,  to  quiet  their  indig- 
nant remonstrances,  were  laid  in  irons;  and,  ere  long,  singular  to 
state,  they  joined  heartily  in  su2)porting  the  authority  of  Cortes. 


d  the  Spanish 
■e  described  in 
)se  who  hehcld 
in  cotton  and 
silver  skilfully 
illy  of  a  great 
fashioned,  and 
day,  nearly  a 
A  courteous 
dining  a  visit, 

t,  received  the 
^customed  per- 
present  (niiser- 
f  the  emperor) 
rt.  A  positive 
returned;  and 

"Truly  this  is 
must  see  him." 
tirely  deserted 
,  spot,  reeking, 
id  alread}'  per- 
rable  locality. 

the  Totonacs, 
ig  him  to  visit 
irdous  experi- 


le  might  have 
ad  been  over- 
ad  resolved  to 
tvealthy  region 
machinations, 
the  foundation 
J,  and,  having 
governor,  was 
!  own  appoint- 
■a  Cruz.  The 
iet  their  indig- 
ig,  singular  to 
of  Cortes. 


:^<^ 


^^  v4; 


//  /•■  /,'  X.I  .VI)  (I    I  It  II  T r.  s, 

T  M   ¥.       I    (IV  Q  y  K  II  I)  II       o  y       M  K  X  1  c  o. 

UOKN  SEITKAIUKII  111.  liWi;    rniiK    IHi;  <J1  Vor  MKXICi)  IIY  Sl'OKM,  AtlOUBT  \t,  IHil ; 
IIIKI)  KHI-IAIUIII     -J,     ir.l? 


THE   CONQVKST   AND   IIISTOKY   OF  MEXICO 

*  -lid 

That  nclivc  cmnnmndcr,  secure  in  hia  nn^  o„.i.  ■. 
,vitl,  all  his  troops  to  Cempoalh  At  at  ^  ^;'."'"""""'°'""' 
about  thirty  thouLd  i„l,„C  tit  sty  r  "'''*  ™"'»'»"' 
friendly  and  hospitable  ree  S  ZiT'f  '"""7'"'  "«=  "■»«' 
throbbed  high  a.  the  pros;  ^o";:  m'^  'J"'  "'.  '•>*  '-1- 
ambitious  schemes.    He  exrihin  J  ,r.u  V  "'S's'^noe  in  his 

rortly  dignitary,  the  po^e  of  h't^er  he  ''""""  "'l'^"''-"'  " 
for  the  salvation  of  souls   and  Imf  !  ,  'T'"''  ""''  ''''"  '='"'' 

doctrinal  disquisition  on  ^  hi  i  h  "  ..T »™"!.'™«*  '"">  '^ 
had  heard  him  ont,"  savs  a  wi  net  "1  ^''°'"'"'  "■«  '«  "»«iqilo 
plained  l*„rly  of  1  JL^ra^l' hi  Xl^stS'ttt  """■ 

This  disaffection^™::^  "  cTl'tt  :  27rT'-  ^'T""""'" 
arrival  of  live  officers  from  the  „      .7,7  '""""■"g  day,  the 

nacs  .ith  dismay.  Tr  I  it,  If  H"""""  *■"'"="  "o  ^oto- 
imperial  enn-ssarL,  "'Ctr^  i  ^^  „tt  ri^h  J;"""';"  "■" 
state  no,  deigning  to  east  a  look  on  tl,eVf^Zl  \ZT  7 
gantly  attired,  and  each  hohl  in  i  •    ^    ^;^l'''"i'^rcls.     Ihey  were  cJg- 

Sonailv  s„.elt'  at-a "t  u  p  e  '  o^r  ^  "T"^'  "'^^'^  '^^  -- 
their  errand.  This  was  no  hn  ^ess  t  ^rt^I  ''7''  ^"^"'^^""^^ 
people  for  sacrifice  to  their  c.ods  in  c'    io  f '"'^"i^^^'^^^^'  yo""S 

i..g  the  Spaniards      But  s  ^oh       '"  ?'^^  ''^i'^"  °f  ^lie  offence  of  recei v- 

Cortes,  tlit  tl^T^ton  ;  at  h  !"  "  ^.'"^  "^^^"^^  ^^^'^^^  ^ 
a.nba.4adors  in  the  oc S-tfa  T'f'  '""'"'^^'  ^"^  ^'^^^  ''^'^^ 
iey,  savin,  their  liv  and  seer^";  '  'T""''''^'''  ^y  ^''^^^  I-'" 
pitiato  the  emperor     '  ^  ^^'«Patch,ng  them  home  to  pro- 

de  El  Vera  Cru.  (aHot  Z.''"  V  ""^  V"""  ^''^"'-^^^  ^^'"'''  ^^'^^ 
name)  was  founded^  I^S^^      :^^  ^7/'^  ?--"'  city  of  that 

die!  present..,  soon  arrived  frZT  I  ''"^"''^''  ''''^'  'l'^'^'' 

^-^b-ciispia^ed  to  r'c^rf  r:z;;:  ^r^^^'  ^'^^^"^;^"- 

^■^;j".-atetl  his  intention  of  visi^ng  tl^ir::::^;'  ''^'"^""  ^^''^^^• 

^i  ":^:^;^^^^^^^  ::r  i^^  ^--  -^«-  p-ised ., 

witl.  crusading  .ea]    hf  u  ll  T  ^e'no„stranee.     Inflamed 

destruction  of  the Idd      T     1  ^  'T''^  "'"^^'^  ^^''  ^''«  ^"^'"-''"''to 

seized,  and  Cort(>s  nndo  .  '^"''  ""^'^  '"''"''''''•d  ^^'^''O 

V...   Vrr     "!'^^"  '"  ^«"S  '^'^^^on  to  the  aghast  multit-J» 


114 


TIIK   PEOPLK'S   BOOK   OF   lUSTOKY. 


assuring  tlicm  of  the  protection  of  tlio  Virgin,  "  with  many  other 
good  and  holy  reasons  and  arguments,  which  could  not  be  better 
expressed  by  any  one,  and  all  which  the  people  listened  to  with 
much  attention."  Mass  was  performed,  and  all  the  principal  persons 
of  the  neighbourhood,  with  respectful,  but,  no  doubt,  with  grcatly- 
puzjiled  attention,  participated  in  the  ceremony.  To  propitiate  the 
crown,  and  to  secure  its  protection  against  the  anticipated  vengeance 
of  A'^elasqucz,  Cortes  now  resolved  to  dispatch  the  whole  of  the  splen- 
did presents  of  Montezuma  as  an  offering  to  the  emperor  (Charles  V.), 
and,  by  his  almost-unbounded  influence  with  the  soldiery,  prevailed 
on  them  to  relinquish  their  share  of  the  treasure.  A  letter,  entreat- 
ing a  confirmation  of  his  authority,  seconded  by  the  petitions  of  the 
Avholc  army,  was  written;  and,  with  wonderful  audacity,  he  assured 
the  emperor  that  in  a  brief  time  the  Aztec  sovereign  .should  be  made 
to  own  his  sway,  or,  dead  or  alive,  be  placed  at  his  disposal.  On  the 
2(ith  of  July,  a  vessel,  bearing  the  treasure  and  these  momentous 
tidings,  was  dispatched  to  Spain;  but,  by  the  indiscretion  of  her 
commander,  in  touching  at  Cuba,  Velasquez  became  informed  of  the 
whole  proceedings.  With  indescribable  rage  and  fury,  he  set  to 
work  to  prepare  a  fresh  expedition  for  the  purpose  of  rcilucing  his 
refractory  officer,  and  gaining  possession  of  the  wealthy  realms 
of  Mexico. 

A  few  malcontents  in  the  army  had  plotted  to  seize  a  vessel  and 
return  to  the  island.  This  piece  of  defection  was  punished  with 
merciless  severity;  and,  to-guard  against  any  retiewal  of  the  attempt, 
Cortes  now  took  the  extraordinary  resolution  of  destroying  his  lloet. 
Accordingly,  all  except  one  small  vessel  were  privately  scuttled  and 
sunk.  The  alarm  and  indignation  of  the  soldiers  were  allayed,  and 
their  courage  inflamed  by  a  harangue  so  stirring  and  eloquent,  that, 
■when  it  was  finished,  they  cried  eagerly,  "To  ^fexico!  to  Mexico!'' 
All,  indeed,  could  see  that  there  was  no  chance  of  drawing  back,  and 
that  the  only  hope  of  safety  itself  lay  in  victory  and  conquest. 
Active  preparations  were  now  made  for  the  expected  campaign. 
Juan  de  Escalente,  a  sure  friend  of  the  general's,  wa-^  left  in  command 
of  a  small  garrison  at  Cempoalhi.  With  a  little  more  than  four  hun- 
dred Spaniards  and  two  thousand  Totonacs,  on  the  IGth  of  August, 
1519,  Cortes  set  forth  on  the  most  wonderful  of  martial  entcr[)risc3 
recorded  iu  history — the  iMarch  to  Mexico. 


THE  CONQUEST  AND   HISTORY    OF  MEXICO. 

CHAPTEB  I?. 


116 


THE  UfARCH  TOWARD  MEXim  QPTm-r,,. 

COUItAOEMENTS.  — PunrNEss    0.    rnA  ''^  "^'^- 

OPTJIETr^SCArAvr      M.  ^»'^TE«.— SUBMISSION 

Ui'  int  ff'A.SCALAAS.— siNouf^.,v,ic„^  PFVrr>:a 

of  Ja,ap.,a„d  Na„,i„co,  :S        eT   r  f  T"n^r  *°;"'" 
ivhiel,  tlicv  rmrhed  after  several  ,Iav.     f  "•■"'""qnitepco, 

ma„y.eocalIie,or„„u„d.to„T   fdi^  .:""'"!  ""'"''■  """ 

romonstrances  of  the  reverend  F..fln..  ni       i       ,       , '  ^'^  *'^^ 

oxpeciition,  who,  to  his  honour,  often  interfered  in   iJl.nlf     f  .u 
natives,  and  who  now  assured  h  m  that  flTT  "^  ^^' 

for  making  proselytes  ''^'  '^"'"  '''''  ""P^«Pitious 

itproteot.dby.,7,Ii!^^^^^^^^^^  ^"^P^i^'^d  to  f5nd 

J_  ^  -^  '"*''^^'''*'  '^'^^  "^  masonry,  built  between  two  mount- 


116 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTOUY. 


ains,  and  having  but  a  single  entrance,  curiously  constructed  for 
defence.  No  one,  however,  appeared  to  oppose  them,  and  the  little 
army,  defiling  through  the  gate-way,  pushed  on  toward  the  capital. 
Their  hopes  of  a  friendly  reception  were  soon  grievously  disappointed, 
A  force  of  three  thousand  Tlascalans  appeared  to  dispute  tlieir  pass- 
age, and  though  compelled  to  give  ground  before  the  discharge  of 
artillery  and  the  charge  of  cavalry,  retreated  in  good  order.  On  the 
next  day  (Seiitcmber  2d)  a  fresh  body  of  the  enemy  appeared,  who, 
to  a  formal  protest,  recorded  as  usual  by  a  notary,  replied  only  with 
a  shower  of  missiles.  A  fight  commenced,  and  the  Indians,  artfully 
retreating,  decoyed  their  invaders  into  a  narrow  defile,  where  Xicoten- 
catl,  the  greatest  general  of  Tlascala,  with  an  army  of  many  thousand 
warriors,  was  waiting  to  receive  them. 

Amid  the  hideous  roar  of  barbarian  drums,  the  shrill  notes  of  flutes 
and  a  terrific  outbreak  of  cries  and  whistlings,  the  little  army  of 
Cortes  engaged  the  enemy— his  Indian  allies,  now  three  thousand 
in  number,  standing  stoutly  b}-^  him.  Destruction,  indeed,  seemed 
almost  inevitable.  "I  see  nothing  but  death  before  us,"  said  one  of 
tlie  chiefs;  "we  shall  never  get  through  the  pass  alive."  But  the 
little  body  of  cavalry,  Cortes  at  their  head,  charging  with  the  despe- 
ration of  men  whose  lives  were  at  stuke,  at  length  cleared  a  way  for 
the  artillery,  whicli  played  with  terrible  cfl'eet  on  the  crowded  ranks 
of  the  enemy.  Eight  of  the  bravest  Tlascalan  chiefs  and  a  great 
number  of  their  followers  fell,  and  Xicoteiicatl,  discouraged,  at  last 
drew  oft"  his  forces.  The  Spaniards  retreated,  for  safe  encamjirnent 
to  an  eminence  called  the  "ITill  of  Tzompach,''  on  which  stood  a 
temple,  the  ruins  of  which  yet  remain.  Their  loss  had  been  sinull, 
owing  to  the  anxiety  of  the  enemy  to  take  them  alive  for  .sacrifice; 
but  an  abundance  of  cruel  wounds  were  distributeil  among  them 
which,  with  the  revolting  aid  of  a  chirurgery  common  in  tliese  wars, 
they  dressed  with  the  fat  of  the  Indians  who  had  fallen. 

Overtures  of  peace,  which  Cortes  now  made  to  the  Tlascalans, 
were  fiercely  and  peremptorily  rejected  ;  and  news  came  that  Xieotcn- 
catl,  with  fifty  thousand  men,  was  awaiting  the  invaders  on  the  road 
to  Tlascala.  On  hearing  these  portentous  tidings,  .'savs  the  honest 
chronicler,  "being  but  mortals,  and  like  all  others  fearing  death, 
we  prepared  for  battle  by  confessing  to  our  reverenil  fathers,  who 
were  occupied  during  the  whole  niglit  in  that  holy  oniec."  On  the 
morning  of  September  15th,  the  little  host,  resolved  on  conquest  or 
death,  again  took  the  road  to  Tlascala. 


THE   CONQUEST   AND  HISTORY    OF   MEXICO.  ^7 

The  Indian  army,  drawn  up  in  a  vast  meadoiv  ru.  ■  ■      • 

no  great  distance.     It  formed  a  splendid  ^  ^C^^""^  •'  '' 
ben,g  decorated  with  armour  of  gold  and  silver  TdM  7"'"°'' 

be.ng  gorgeous  with  mantles  of  feather-wo  ,   Ch  "r^'r^^-^"^^ 
unnimerable  standards.      Their  weaoons  w.r  ^"ttenng  of 

arrow,  headed  with  copper  or  ^r's  one^il^  v"'^'  ^T'  ^"' 
made,  but  feeble  and  inefficient  in  co„>n.r In  w ith  f  "-  .elegantly 
mnskets,  and  the  sabres  of  their  European  foe  fjll  7  "^^  *'" 
was  their  onset,  that  by  mere  force  of  nu^s  tilk  ^.'^^™'"«'l 
at  first  driven  back  in  confusion      TW  n       "^^'''  *''«  Spaniards  were 

room  was  f.,ally  cleared  ft  th'alle^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
among  the  dense  ranks  of  the  assailant'     ilf     '  \''''''  ''''  "^'^^« 
tes,  charged  fiercely  wherever  thev  W  l.n  '7'  '-''  '''''^''  ^«'-    • 

assailants  with  much  slaug .  er  ^^i  "^^  l'  '"^-  ^^°^^  "^^''^  ^^e 
loss,  did  the  Tlascalans  close  Tiou^l^  m/"""'  "f  ^^^^'^^^ 
and  Totonacs;    and,  but  for  disVZi  *''™^  "^  Spaniards 

probably,  by  their  o^l!Z^Z:i<Z^  '"7^^?  ^^^'^' 
ried  the  day.  But  two  nowerfnl  nl.T  r  ^  ^  numbers,  have  car- 
retreated  .L  their  :es^ec:":''^^^^^^^^^^  ''"':  ^^r--ti, 

test  of  four  hours,  during  which  he  had  i  llfr  '  *''''"'  t-^^" 
reus  courage,  was  flvin  to  draw  off  ,hT      T'^^,^'^  ^''«  "^"st  chival- 

The  Spaniards,   exhausted  ^^ wo     /frt-^' ''''^  ^^"^^'^"^• 

tion,  the  dcfoated\nrmy  mde  a  S  '  Z '"*"^^r"°^'""'^'  ^'^«*^- 
ca.p.  But  these  1.^  adtni:  t  ll^t  T  '^  '^^'^^'^'^ 
arms,  were  instantly  on  the  alert    J^^°\  "^^'  ^"  t''^'''" 

loss  the  advancing  assailan  s-jL  T^  '''''''^''^  ''''''  considerable 

I.  sacrificing  two;fthei;:L-i;^:°;:X'  ^^^f  r^^^ 
cl  would  now  have  made  peace  and  fovf\Z'  f' '""  '^""■ 

the  Christian  camp  an  en^L^oft^  o  :^  '7'?  ^^"'^''^'  ^° 
">teroepted  on  the  way  by  XicLnca  en;  fotcte  7"''  "' 
.ve  defoats  which  he  had  encountered      Tho  ^  ?     "  '""'"''• 

%-'lvo  c^whom  had  perished  s!^     Lw'^::^;  !  '^^'"f"^' 
ily  weaned  of  fi<ditin<r  .,,1,1  nri,    .•  m    °  '^^'^'  ^^^''<^  ^^eart- 

«i.l.  Cor.c,  ».ai;;t  1;  '"";,  T^->:  ^'-'olv  remonstrated 


attemjitiiig  to  reach  Mexico   tl 


',  tlie  name  of  which 


118 


THE  PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF  HISTORY, 


had  become  a  cornnion  jest  in  the  army,  or  even  Tlascala.  But 
their  indomitable  commandei-,  in  a  stern  and  eloquent  harangue, 
revived  their  spirits,  and  assured  them  of  the  divine  protection, 
"Wherever  we  have  come,"  he  said,  "we  have  preached  to  the  igno- 
rant natives  the  doctrines  of  our  holy  faith ;  wherefore  I  trust  we 
shall  still  receive  the  divine  assistance,  and  that  of  my  patron,  St. 
Peter;  *  *  *  j^j^j  jjg  jq  y^\y■^^  y^^^  gj^y  ^f  losses,  deaths 
and  fatigues,  such  is  the  fortune  of  war,  and  we  did  not  come  here 
in  search  of  pastimes  and  amusements."  Any  further  remonstrances 
he  cut  short  by  quoting  from  an  old  song,  that  "  it  was  better  to  die 
at  once  than  to  live  dishonoured,"  and  by  the  firmness  of  his  character, 
and  the  vehemence  of  his  tone,  bore  down  all  opposition. 

A  large  embassy  which  Xicotencatl  had  dispatched  to  the  Span- 
ish camp,  being  discovered  to  be  spies,  were  dismissed  with  cruel 
mutilation;  and  that  commander,  suddenly  abandoning  his  hopes 
of  resistance,  betook  himself,  with  the  intercepted  envoys,  to  the 
presence  of  the  invaders.  He  took  on  him.self  the  entire  reponsi- 
bility  of  the  war,  and  tendered  the  submission  of  his  countrymen. 
Almost  at  the  same  time  a  new  embassy,  of  five  nobles,  with  two 
hundred  attendants,  bearing  magnificent  presents,  arrived  from  Mon- 
tezuma. That  unhappy  sovereign  now  offered  to  furnish  regular 
tribute  to  the  king  of  Spain,  if  the  dreaded  strangers  would  forego 
their  intended  march  to  his  capital — an  impolitic  overture,  which 
only  stimulated  the  hopes  and  ambition  of  Cortes,  already  fortified 
by  the  enmity  which  he  observed  to  prevail  between  the  two  embas- 
sies, "  I  was  not  a  little  pleased,"  be  writes  to  the  emperor  (Charles 
v.)  "on  seeing  their  want  of  harmony,  as  it  seemed  fixvourable  to  my 
designs,  and  would  enable  me  to  bring  them  the  more  easily  into 
subjection,  according  to  the  old  saying  'De  monte,^  &c.  I  likewise 
applied  to  this  case  the  authority  of  tlie  Evangelist,  who  says,  'Every 
kingdom  divided  against  itself  shall  be  rendered  desolate,'  and  I 
dissembled  with  both  parties" — an  avowal  of  complacent  du]ilicity 
hardly  to  be  paralleled  even  in  private  diplomatic  correspondence. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  a  day  still  observed  as  a  festival  in  that 
city,  the  Spanish  army  entered  Tlascala.  The  inhabitants,  with  a 
strange  revulsion  of  feeling,  thronged  around  it,  covering  man  and 
horse  with  fi-esh  roses,  and  exhibiting  cxcvy  token  of  the  heartiest 
welcome.  This  extraordinary  change  was  doubtless  due  to  the 
respect  which  valour  and  superior  power  always  commands  from  a 
half  civilized  race,  and  also  to  their  hope  of  a  resistless  ally  in  war 


THE   CONUUKST  AND  HISTORY   OF  MEXICO.  ^q 

against  their  ancient  enemies,  the  Aztecs.     The  city  proved  to  bo 
large  and  populo.i^-thirty  thousand  persons,  it  is  said,  beinc.    on 
pubhc  days,  assemb  ed  m  the  market-place;  and  many  evidences  of 
rehncment,  such  as  baths  and  a  police,  awakened  the  admiration  of 
the  strangers.     Cortes  n>  his  dispatches,  a.Iduces  an  odd  proof  of 
the  advancement  of  the  natives  of  New  Smin:    "There  were  hZ 
gars  in  the  streets,"  he  says,  "as  among  any  civilized  people."        °" 
Jha    zealous  polenue,  with  his  accustomed  promptitude,  at  once 
en  ered  or,  the  work  of  converting  his  new  Allies.'     IlollinV   ' 
before    hem  "a  beauteous  image  of  our  Lady,  with  her  precious 
Son  n.  her  arms,"  he,  made  a  long  discourse,  no  doubt  of  an  ed  fy 
,ng  nature  on  the  Chr.st.an  faith,  and  the  rewards  of  i.s  votarie s- 
"whereas,    he  eontmued  "by  persisting  in  the  worslnp  of  you   iLs 
vduch  are  devds,  you  wdl  be  drawn  by  them  into  their  i.fern.^^  n   ' 
there  to  burn  eternally  in  flames  of  iire."    All  he  could  obtain  how 
ever,  was  an  assent  to  the  display  arnl  exercise  of  his  own  faith   a'd 
he  release  of  v.etnns  destined  for  saerifice-the  latter,  how'cv  r 
b.ng  of  httle  effect,  the  Tlascalans  quietly  perpetrating  Iheir  Zi 
rites,  whenever  their  guests  were  out  of  the  way. 


suBirrs.sioN  op  provixoes.-cortks  MARcrrEs  on  choiuia 

-PLOT    l)ISCOVKRK,..-,rAS,SAC,tE   OP   THE   CUOJ.V     ,^     1 

THE  MARCH  TO  MEXICO  RESU  MEl,. -WE  A  K  POUCY  OP  MON- 

TEU'MA.-THE  ENTRANCE  INTO  MEXICO. -INTE  R  VP  J" 

WITH  THE  EMPEROR.-HIS  GENEROSITY  AND  APPABIIITY. 

TiiRoroK  fear  of  the  invincible  strangers  or  from  Intn.,!  f    .1. 
A.^c  rule,  embassies  were  now  sent  to  C;;tes  ^^^m^  r"  r^     .    i  ^ 
endermg  submission  and  tribute.     But  the  people  of  C  o    I'n 
lent  and  ce  ebra.ed  city,  the  most  sacred' in'all  Anah  (t  e 

eeca  of  the  Mexican  races,)  and  still  famous  for  its  great  p";,; 
and  other  massive  relics  of  tlio  A„f^  i  •  ^"•"rj'-cnm, 

mind      "Tl,Pv  J\  [  ^^"^  worship,  were  of  a  different 

rnnid         1  hey  sent  a  very  dry  and  nncourteous  answer  to  our  mes- 

f ;    T  '^'  '"'^^'-^  Captain  T)iaz,  "a.^  n-!0.o„t  al;    ZZ 
«/'--."     Determined  to  overawe  this  refractorv  and  illibea  co^ 


120 


TIIK   I'EIH'LK'S    BOOK   OF   IIISTOUY. 


niunity,  Cortes,  iti'tcr  a  sojourn  of  three  weeks  in  Tlascala,  aceom- 
psuiied  by  six  thousand  warriors  from  that  city,  took  up  his  march 
for  Cholula,  which  hiy  at  no  great  distance.  On  his  arrival,  the  cit- 
izens, witli  ap{)arent  readiness,  gave  in  their  submission,  only  request- 
ing that  the  Tlascalans,  with  whom  they  were  at  feud,  should  encamp 
without  the  city;  but  welcomed  the  Spaniards  with  every  appearance 
of  joy  and  congratulation. 

Nevertheless,  in  a  few  days,  it  was  evident  that  secret  enmity  was 
plotting  their  destruction.  A  sacrifice  to  the  war-god,  including  five 
children,  intimated  some  notable  attempt  of  a  martial  nature;  and 
ere  long,  the  visitors  were  utterly  neglected  by  their  hosts — the  few 
citizens,  whom  they  met  in  the  streets,  drawing  aside,  "with  a  mys- 
terious kind  of  sneer  on  their  faces."  Through  the  agency  of 
Marina,  the  whole  particulars  of  the  plot  were  discovered,  and  Cortes 
resolved  to  make  a  terrible  example  of  the  hostile  city.  Under 
pretext  of  taking  his  leave,  on  the  following  morning  he  assembled 
in  the  great  square  a  largo  number  of  the  chiefs  and  citizens.  When 
all  was  ready,  he  suddenly  broke  forth  into  a  fierce  address,  reproach- 
ing them  with  tlieir  treason.  The  caciques  admitted  the  plot,  but  laid 
the  blame  on  ]\[ontczuma — with  what  truth  docs  not  cxai.'tly  appear. 

lie  then  at  once  gave  the  signal  for  slaughter,  and  his  soldiers 
with  artillery  and  musketry,  committed  a  frightful  massacre  on  the 
multitude  eutrapi)ed  within  the  square.  The  Tlascalans  also  swarmed 
in,  and  before  the  fury  of  these  ancient  enemies  could  be  staved,  six 
thousand  of  the  Cholulans  had  perished,  and  tlie  whole  city  was 
ravaged  and  plundered.  This  terrible  example  of  the  power  and 
vengeance  of  the  Spaniards  struck  dread  throughout  all  Anahuac. 
^fontezuma,  trembling  in  his  distant  capital,  again  dispatched  splen- 
did presents  to  the  victors,  and,  after  a  fortnight  passed  in  the  de- 
vastated city,  elate  with  triumph,  and  strengthened  by  a  force  of 
six  thousand  of  the  bravest  warriors  of  Tlascala,  they  resumed  the 
march  to  ^Texico. 

It  was  useless,  indeed,  to  disguise  from  their  minds  that.  aIthou"-h 
so  far  successful  to  a  degree  unheard  of,  they  were  entering  on  new 
and  terrible  dangers,  ^^nrching  with  con.stant  watchfninoss,  ("the 
beard  ever  on  the  shoulder,"  says  one  of  them)  they  gradually 
ascended  the  chain  of  mountains  which  surrounds  the  groat  Mexican 
Yalley.  After  much  sutTcring  from  fatigue,  and  from  tlie  cold  aif 
of  those  elcvat(>d  regions,  they  attained  the  summit,  and  cast  their 
eyes  over  "that  magnificent  prospect,  which,  to -this  day,  charms 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  IIISTOUY    OK   MEXICO.  igl 

every  beholder  into  rapture.     Before  ti.em,  stretching  for  many  a 
league,  and  environed  on  all  sides  by  lofty  mountains,  ky  th.  ValL 
of  Mexico-perhaps,  after  that  of  Granada,  tin,  richc  t  and  love lio^ 
,n  the  world.     C  usters  of  glistening  towns  and  villages  su.mu    lo 
the  lakes;    and  fur  m  the  distance  lay  that  might,  city    tho  fi  a 
pn.e  of  the.r  adventurous  career."     Alarmed  at  L       'id otos  o 
the  power  and  population  of  the  empire  into  which  th.y  w ore  so 
darmgly  mtrudmg,  .ome  would  fain  have  retreated;  but  CoHos  wi  h 
words  of  eager  cncouragcnent,  lod  them  down  the  mountain      A 
new  embassy,  w.th  a  great  present  from  Montezuma,  was  soon     In^ 
red,  bearmg  anew  the  impolitic  offering  of  treasure  and  t   1m  to 

^  :;  rr^  'tl  'T  ^--^-^^^  -trance  il  ^ 
capital.  But  the  Spanish  leader,  his  ambitious  ima^rination  now 
thoroughly  mtlamed,  resolved,  at  whatever  rish   fn  i 

intended  enterprise  vvnatcvcr   ri.U,  to  complete    h,s 

■0  moans  of  concilia.,-"  ".S    1,^1™',"!   ',""''■  '"  '■="" 

brother,  „i„  „c„„c„,  a,,.,  «t>::tr^J7Z::^zz:fi "' 

we  c„,„c  ,l,c  visito^  ae  .l,c  ,mL  station,  I   h' ^  "  ™"  •■"" 
As  the  Spaniards  annronehprl   th^         -.  ,      ,    . 

n»...ivoly  conamctcl  of  l,o„n  *n'    1    f  °"  ""'^  """'""^y^. 

..latinn,  a„,l  all  tl,o  evi.lenc  J  of Tv'.n  .  IT  'TT'  "'"''  '""P" 
tW  811,  of  November  15W  tho.rfi  .'  '""'''■""''  ■''■''"emcnt  On 
«-»v,  aretchin,,  aero,,  the  1     J  t        °Z  "''■"  ™™'°""'l^-  »a..,e. 

chielsonthern  accrt^ttc  :  V  :r  "^orj:,';;';"  ^'"r  *"<■ 
ing  the  surface  of  fha  ,,rof      "  ''^"^'^-     ^''"  ^'t'lor  hand,  obscur- 

Sii  *:-;;;:  ::~r--  «.'~4r=^ 

thron.  ,v,,i,h  no,,  gl    '  ;       '™"''"-  "»  "'7  "^  "-  "™.=o 

«i»ery,  the  pale  Ice,  an;r;:;;„";lt:  ""  '""  "•"'-'""•■'"■  '"= 


US 

and 


ijards  of  Europe.      They 


u 


122 


THE  I'KOl'LIi'S  BOOK   01"   1U8TOUV. 


would  Iianlly  trust  their  hoiihcs.  "  Wo  coukl  comparo  it  to  notliing," 
Bays  till!  oiil  oliroiiiclor,  "but  tliu  eucluiiitcil  scoiios  wo  hail  read  of 
in  Auiadis  do  Ga.n\,  I'roni  tho  grout  towors  iviid  tomplos  and  othor 
oililioo.s  whioh  socniod  to  rise  out  of  tho  wator.  To  many  of  us  it 
appeared  di)id)tful  wlu'thor  we  wore  asloop  or  awalvo;  #  *  * 
never  yet  did  man  hco  or  dream  of  any  thing  oipial  to  the  spectacle 
whieh  appeared  to  our  eyes  on  this  day." 

As  the  little  hody  of  Spaiuards,  followed  by  the  Tlascalan  army, 
entered  on  tho  great  .street  of  the  city,  Montezuma  in  per.son,  attended 
by  a  great  erowd  of  hi.s  nobles,  a{)peared  to  welcome  them.  IIo  was 
borne  on  a  .splendid  litter,  froni  which,  at  the  approach  of  hi.s  vi.sitora, 
ho  alighted.  Cortes  also  dismounted,  and  those  two  men,  the  repre- 
sentatives of  tho  Old  World  and  the  New,  each  the  object  of  such 
interest  to  tho  other,  stood  face  to  face.  Tho  emperor,  at  this  time, 
was  about  forty  years  of  age,  and  appeared,  says  a  witness  of  tho 
scene,  "of  good  stature,  well  jiroportionod  and  thin;  his  complexion 
was  much  fairer  than  that  of  the  Indians;  ho  wore  his  hair  short, 
just  covering  his  car-s,  with  very  little  beard,  well-arranged,  thin  and 
black.  His  face  was  rather  long,  with  a  ploa.sant  countenance  and 
good  eyes.  Gravity  and  good  humour  were  blended  together  when 
ho  spoke."  With  tho  utmost  courtesy,  and  with  apparent  cordirditv, 
he  welcomed  the  strangers  to  his  capital,  and  Cortes  could  not  but 
express,  in  fitting  terms,  his  thanks  for  the  repeated  instances  of 
royal  generosity  which  he  had  so  often  experienced. 

After  a  brief  interview,  the  Spaniards  and  their  allies  were  con- 
ducted through  an  immense  multitude,  to  their  destined  quarters, 
in  a  great  i)alace  built  by  the  emperor's  father  Axayacatl.  Every 
terrace  and  houseto])  was  crowded  with  human  beings,  gazing  with 
in.satiate  curiosity  on  tho  strangers,  and  marvelling  at  the  entrance 
of  a  great  army  of  their  hereditary  foes.  Montezuma  was  already 
in  the  court-yard,  waiting  their  arrival.  He  hung  a  massive  chain 
of  gold  around  tho  neck  of  Cortes,  repeated  his  welcome,  and  then, 
with  refined  civility,  left  him  to  repose.  But  that  wary  general 
turned  his  first  attention  to  fortifying  the  palace,  and  to  planting 
cannon  for  its  defence,  with  every  ])rccaution  against  a  surpri.sc. 
"Such  was  the  entrance  of  this  little  band,  animated  by  an  invinci- 
ble hardihood,  into  the  renowned  Tenochtitlan* — the  fairest  and 
most  jTOwerfid  city  in  the  Western  Continent;  and  whether  we  con- 
sider tho   audacity  of  the   attemjit,  its  wonderful   success,  or  the 

*  The  native  appellation  of  the  iiiicieiit  city  of  Mexico. 


n  uivinci- 


Hlran...  ami  exciting  novelty  .W  the  attendant  eire.nnsfancvs  it  nnnt 

bo  re«anl(j.l  a«  tho  most  reniarkahlu  evolnit    ..11 

"...1  drHperate  coura,..,  in  tl  e     r  „s^^  '-I'tary  ..niu.s 

«eiroon,..acency,  -who  «ave  ns  conra^el::;'  ^  J  1  :  /Z 
gers,  and  brought  us  safely  through  then,.'  *  *  ^  *  .  r'"" 
ends,  1,0  ,,roeoe.Ls,  'the  true  and  full  aecountof  our  adventurous  uul 

Av.itn.o.ti.ee:;i^^ii:::;^;-;;,;^^ 

c  udod  tins  eventful  d.^.     On  the  next,  CortCh^  l^^iZ. 
olhco...  ropa,.-ed  to  tho  royal  paluee,  where  all  wcTe  -u,  "a   1 
luuntaiiis,  the  tapo-strv  of  .mv  ,.i,„  1      .         '""a/.oil  at  the 

.«.»  set  nWut  tl,o  w,rk  „f  clvt     ,  'T;'^"'''' '"  "■■"'"'■  "' 

evil  tountenancos  and  worse  deck"  .,„  1  •  "»'Viis,  ol 

l»,w  and  thoao  of  his  subiccta  from  il,„  „,,',',,  "'V'"" 

.»>™l  tl,ogo„craI  tl,„.l,„.,„a  w,,  nmir  l„a      arrnlll  T 
.•c,l.  ,  a„tl,„rit,  „„.,  ,i,„i.^.     A  f„,v  u,.r»,  .„u"  t      o  .Z  '  M 
from  1,,.,  eyes  as  lie  iii-oiiouiieeil  tlieso  won,  ,   fl...  .  ,        ,  , 

aiicicnl  lioiiours  to  the  diorn.„  „f  ""■'"=  """I'.  «''«  surren.Icr  of  l,is 

-vcro,.  his  chetrf^,^rc   .  Led"  ,  rZt'r"''.''""^  •""  '" 

■-'  ^"'^fy J  fl i;.i«ni"  1^  ir,^t™;;;:rrf 


124 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  HI8T0EY. 


CHAPTER.?!. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  ANCIENT  CAPITAL  OF  TENOCHTITLAN  OR 

IIEIICO. THE  PALACES  OP  MONTEZUMA.  —  HIS  COLLECTIONS 

OP  NATUIIAL  HISTORY. SUPERSTITION  OF  THE  SPANIARDS. 

—  HIDEOUS    SCENES    OF    SACRIFICE.  —  REFLECTIONS 


Before  entering  on  a  relation  of  tlie  memorable  events  which 
followed  the  entrance  of  the  Spaniards  into  Tenochtitlan,  and  before 
recording  the  utter  destruction  to  which  those  events  were  the  pre- 
lude, it  is  proper  to  give  some  description  of  that  ill-fated  city,  as  it 
appeared  to  Europeans  in  the  brief  interval  preceding  its  ruin  and 
annihilation.  "The  present  city  of  Mexico  occupies  the  site  of  this 
ancient  capital  of  the  Aztecs,  and  the  long  causeways  which  led 
through  the  water  still  form  its  principal  approaches.  But  the 
waters  of  Lake  Tezcuco,  by  drainage,  have  shrunk  away,  and  the 
Indian  Venice  which  they  environed  is  now  surrounded  by  (Justv 
fields,  miles  from  the  shore.  At  the  time  of  the  Conquest,  it  wa's 
probably  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  picturesque  of  cities.  The 
houses  were  of  reddish  stone  or  brick,  and  numerous  canals,  with 
bridges,  intersected  it  throughout.  The  number  of  houses  is  reported 
to  have  been  sixty  thousand,  and  the  population,  it  is  probable,  was 
nearly  half  a  million.  Forty  thousand  persons  are  said  to  have 
assembled  in  the  market  on  public  days.  The  extent  of  its  vestiges, 
at  the  present  day,  indicates  a  city  of  great  population. 

"Sanitary  rules  were  carefully  observed.  The  aqueduct  of  Cha- 
pul tepee  brought  a  copious  supply  of  fresh  water  into  the  city,  and 
n  thousand  persons  were  daily  employed  in  cleaning  the  streets. 
Among  the  peculiar  ornaments  of  this  marine  capital,  were  the 
numerous  floaljjng  islands,  of  artificial  construction,  which  supported, 
not  only  a  great  variety  of  flowers  and  vegetables,  but  trees  of  con- 
siderable size,  and  the  cottages  of  their  proprietors. 

"The  palaces  of  the  emperor  were  of  vast  extent,  and  contained 
almost  innumerable  apartments.  Many  of  these  were  devoted  to  the 
aeeornmodation  of  a  menagerie,  the  most  complete  and  extensive,  it 
is  probable,  in  the  possession  of  any  sovereign  of  the  day.  Wild 
animals,  collected  throughout  the  most  distant  regions  of  Anahuac, 


THE  CONQUEST  AND   lIIbTuliV   OE   MEXICO.  125 

were  here  lodged  in  numerous  and  convenient  receptacles;  and  the 
rarest  and  most  beautiful  birds,  in  vast  numbers,  were  housed  in 
magnificent  aviaries,  with  every  convenience  to  render  their  confine- 
ment endurable.     But  the  fierce  aspect  of  the  caged  animals  and 
reptiles  struck  the  half-civilized  conquerors  rather  with  horror  than 
admiration.     ' In  this  accursed  house,'  says  one  of  them,  '  were  man  v 
vipers  and  other  poisonous  serpents,  which  have  in  their  tail  some- 
what that  sounds  like  castanets,  and  they  are  the  worst  of  all  vipers 
*        *        These  beasts  and  horrid  reptiles  were  retained  to  keep 
company  with  their  infernal  gods,  and  when  the  lions  and  tygers 
roared,  and  the  foxes  and  jackals  howled,  and  the  snakes  liissed 
twas  a  grim  thing  to  hear,  and  seemed  like  hell  itself.'    In  this  par- 
ticular, at  least,  the  science  and  liberality  of  the  Indian  naturalist 
stand  m  strong  contrast  with  European  prejudice  and  superstition 
Even  the  earned  De  Soils,  writing  a  century  and  a  half  later,  could 
hardly  believe  it  possible  that  any  prince  should  have  cherished 
'this  poisonous  Article  of  Magnificence,'  but  conceives  the  report  to 
have  been  a  vulgar  error,  founded  on  the  fierce  and  tyrannic  dispo- 
sition  oi  the  Aztec  sovereign. 

"A  more  barbarous,  but  perhaps  not  less  royal  taste,  was  exhibited 
in  a  very  extensive  collection  of  monstrosities.  'Muteczuma  '  savs 
a  writer  of  the  day  'hath  three  great  houses  in  a  solitary  place  out 
of  the  way  to  refreshe  and  recreate  himself  in  the  heate  of  summer- 
in  one  of  these  he  hath  great  plcntie  of  monstrous  men,  as  dwarfes' 
crookebackesandrnenwithoneleggeortwoheades,  &c  &c  '  The 
vast  extent  and  admirable  arrangement  of  the  Botanic  Gardens  of 
the  emperor,  as  well  as  of  other  great  lords,  indicate  refinement 
of  a  certain  character,  to  which  no  European  nation,  at  that  a^e 
had  attained.  °  ' 

"The  state  maintained  by  the  emperor,  the  populous  condition  of 
h.s  harem,  and  the  number  of  his  attendants,  who  amounted  to  sev- 
eral thousands,  all  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  luxurious  court 
of  an  Oriental  sovereign.  'No  one  of  the  Soldans,'  says  Cortes  in 
his  dispatches,  'nor  any  other  infidel  Signior,  of  whom  I  ever  heard 
has,  to  my  beliel,  a  court  so  stately  and  ceremonious.'  In  the 
minute  ceseriptions  of  the  day,  handed  down  by  curious  observers 
ue  luid  the  great  Montezuma,  after  his  dinner,  smoking  tobacco  fron 
an  ornamented  pipe-apparently  a  novelty  to  his  guests,  though 
Co  u,„bus,  many  years  before,  had  found  the  natives  of  CuLa  in  the 


liabit  ol  using  the  same  herb  in  the  f.-rm  of  ci'^ars. 


J 


126 


THE  PEOl'LK'S   BOOK   OF   IIISTOEY. 


''^Nothing  surprised  the  Spaniards  more  than  the  gloomy  'House 
of  Sorrow,  to  which  the  emperor  was  accustomed  to  retire,  on  the 
death  of  any  of  his  relations,  or  in  event  of  any  public  calamity  or 
failure.     It  was  colored  entirely  black,  and  hardly  a  ray  of  light 
cou  d  penetrate  through  the  little  windows  to  the  funereal  apartment 
vitlun       Inthis  dismal  Habitation  he  used  to  continue  until  the 
time  of  Mourning  was  over,  and  often,'  continues  the  fanatical  Solis 
here  the  Devil  appeared  to  him;  whether  it  be  that  the  Prince  of 
Darkness  took  de  ight  in  this  abode  of  Horror,  or  for  the  Sympathy 
there  is  between  that  malignant  Spirit  and  a  melancholy  Humour '  "* 
Tlie  emperor,  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  his  guests,  four  days  after 
tl^.r  arrival,  conducted  them  to  the  most  remarkable  objects  in  the 
ci  y.     Among  these  were  the  great  tianguez  or  market-place,  inter- 
esting  from  the  multitude  of  its  traders  and  the  variety  and  r/chness 
of  their  wares    and  the  principal  teoealli,  or  mound-temple,  which 
hey  ascended  by  a  winding  path,  a  mile  in  length,  and  whicli,  from 

been  n*  P^""^f '-^  ^'''^  ^^  magnificent,  that  those  who  had 
been  at  Eome  and  Constantinople  exclaimed  that  they  had  never 

Ttle    h    ;•  V^'r  T''""'^  "^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^'^^  ^-^^.  pointed 
ou    the  chief  objects  of  interest;  but  that  zealous  champi^i  of  the 

i  .xith,  eager  for  an  opportunity  to  vindicate  his  creed,  requested  that 
].e  m,g lit  be  introduced  to  the  presence  of  the  Aztec  deities 

I  he  ndeous  scenes  of  sacrifice  to  which  the  Spaniards  were  ac- 
cordingly conducted,  described  with  revolting  paiticularitv  by  tie 
observers  may  be  briefly  represented.  First,  on  the  snmm"it  of  the 
teocalh,  they  were  shown  the  terrible  Stone  of  Sacrifice,  on  which 
housands  c^  living  bodies  had  been  stretclied,  with  the  brea  ip 
Wved  ,n  the  air,  while  the  priest,  wit,h  a  sharp  flint  knife,  laid  o, I 

^.n'rthetff"  'Ti?^'  '"'  P^"^'''"^  '''''''  by  main' force  t 

.toll  1   ?      'a'  S^  "'  "P  '"^"^'"^^  ^"  ^'"  ^^'"^'^'"^  ««  «n  offer- 
ing to  the  deity      A  hideous  figure,  resembling  a  dragon,  presided 

r^'^firusl^'"^'  ^"'  ^""^  ""'-'^  ^-%«piltfatt'efted1he 
In  a  shrine  which  crowned  the  summit  of  the  teoealli,  were  hu^e 
m-ss  apen   figures,  hideous  in  their  distortion,  but  brilliant      ith 
J  |;;vels  and  gold      Of  these  Huitzilopoch.li,  theAztec  god  o         r 
h    wore  anecklace  composed  of  human  hearts  and  heads,  wrol   I 
in  the  precious  metals,  and  Tczeatepuca,  the  god  of  the  infe^. 
world,  "covered  with  little  serpe.t-tailed  devils,"  were  the  mosU::! 
♦  Discoverers,  &c.,  of  Amenen. 


TTE   COSaUlST  AND   HISTOIiT  OF  MEXICO  1,7 

nnd  .he  wall,  of  ,tl  fhri„e\!°T      "*"*''■  '"^  ''"""o™  "'™. 

gers.    Struck  wi.l,  horror  a.  .he  "^olti  g'  1^1"^;°' '"°.^°; 

Ins  voice  in  vehement  remnn«fron„.        ■  ^  fP^-^^cle,  Cortes  raised 

but  only  succeedeTfn  shTcZl T.  T"''  '^'''  ''"°"^"^^^  ^^^^^^^^. 
who,  affer  the  departure  of  ^f*?''  ^  ^^"'"'  ^"^'^^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^«i 
renewed  saer.eef  th:^^!:^  ^L:^::?!^^ ^-^'  ^^ 

orrZ^?:-r-i^^^^^^^  -nee. 

innuiriblfsacriC   ^We  ::::Vv^^  '''''  '}'  '^'^  ^' 

says  Diaz,  "any  name  ex^^  that  o'TeH  ' '  -cursed  building," 
which  they  visited   wa.  .  ^.Z  r  "  ''"''^^«''  t^ocalli 

of  more  th'ln  a  hundred  tholn^^^^^^^        T""'  ^^'''^  ^^«  ^^^'^'^ 
n.ent  may  seem    "in  th.  «  ""'•     ^"^''^dible  as  the  state- 

enormities,  wer^'ex  en sive    nd' ^'"T.  "'"'^  "'"^^'"^^  '-^^   ^1'- 
tion  of  theVouthTf  bo;i"^^^^^^^  ^^'^"""^  '^^  ^''^  ^^-- 

estimate  ofthe  horrors  of  Mexican  theolnL  ^^'^^ggerated  an 

at  this  very  time  and  ]on.  SZ  ;^^'  '"'  """'*  remember  that, 

revolting  fL,  ^:::i^:^^;^::;c'-^-^^ ':  'r  "^--^ 

of  Europe.     On  the  score  of  {,^^'^'''f  ^^,^3^  ^''^  most  refined  nations 

heart  of\heA.:er:i:;^;^:;::r^^ 

stake  of  the  Spaniard;  while  Vrtho  •""■^'"''^  ^"^  *^« 

see  little  to  choose  b;twe  1  J  h      f  ^^".""^^^^  ^"^^l^e^^.  one  can 

fierce  Huitzilopocltli   o    to  1.     f  T°  '"  *''^  ^^'"•'""^  "^  ^'^^ 

the  Heal  Presence"    '  ''"'  ''  ^^"^^  ^'^'^^^^^^  ^heo.y,  sueh  as 


128 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


CHAPTEH   ?IL 

UNPRINCIPLED   SCHEME    OF    CORTES. — HIS    TREACHEROUS 

SEIZURE     OF     MONTEZUMA. — BURNING     OF     THE     AZTEC 

CHIEFS. — OUTRAGE  ON    THE   EMPEROR'S   PERSON. — 

FRUSTRATED  CONSPIRACY  OF  THE  PRINCES. — THE 

CACIQUES  SAVEAR  ALLEGIANCE  TO  THE  SPANISH 

CROWN. — AFFECTING  SCENE.  —  GREAT  TRIBUTE 

OF  TREASURE.  —  RAPACITY  OF  CORTES. 


A  chapel  was  erected  in  the  palace  of  Axayacatl,  and  mass  was 
daily  performed,  with  unusual  decorum  and  solemnity  of  deport- 
ment, for  the  edification  of  the  Aztecs.  These,  though  little  moved 
by  the  mysterious  spectacle,  continued  to  pay  the  most  assiduous 
and  hospitable  attention  to  the  thousands  of  strangers,  botli  Spaniards 
and  hostile  Tlascalans,  who,  uninvited,  had  thrust  themselves  within 
the  walls  of  the  capital.  But  the  ambitious  mind  of  the  Spanish 
leader,  aiming  at  the  immediate  subjugation  of  the  country,  as  the 
only  means  of  attaining  the  countenance  of  his  sovereign  and  eludintr 
the  vengeance  of  the  incensed  Velasquez,  was  ill  at  ease,  and  darkly 
revolved  a  plot,  "the  most  daring,  politic,  and  utterly  unprincipled, 
which  the  mind  of  man  could  devise."  This  was  to  seize  the  person 
of  his  host,  the  generous  and  hospitable  Montezuma,  and  thus  gain 
instant  possession  of  his  realm. 

Solemn  prayer  and  religious  service,  as  usual  in  any  case  of  extreme 
audacity  or  villany,  was  maintained  by  the  Spaniards  all  the  night 
previous  to  the  attempt;  and  Cortes,  during  the  same  time,  was 
heard  pacing  his  room  unquietly  like  one  unable  to  rest  from  anxiety. 
In  the  morning,  after  ma.ss  and  benediction,  the  general,  with  Alva- 
rado,  Sandoval,  Lujo,  Leon,  and  Avila,  five  of  hi.s  bravest  captains, 
repaired  to  the  palace.  The  emperor  was  in  a  joyous  mood,  and, 
with  his  usual  liberality,  bestowed  rich  presents  on  his  guests.  A 
number  of  soldiers,  by  instruction,  had  gradually  assembled  in  the 
court-yard,  and  Cortes  (to  use  his  own  words),  "after  conversing  with 
him  in  a  sportive  manner  on  agreeable  topics,  and  receiving  at  his 
hand  some  jewels  of  gold,  and  one  of  his  orvn  dmtgllers,"  abruptly 
changed  his  tone,  and  accused  his  host  of  the  murder  of  two  Span- 


jaoffTF.z  yjwjj. 


THE  CONQUKST  AND   HISTORY   OF 


MKXICO. 


129 


.un,ri»,  deCared  Aatt  w        rjlel'l  '="^"^  W-anco'of 
Lis  signet,  dispatched  ordc,-,  Tt  ,^lT  ,°""''  ""''  P""'"e  "T 

be  tra„s,„i..„d  for  trial  to  the  c"piHl  "^^  '"  ""'  '"'"  *<>"M 

he^Htrdi^rt  •if;'^''.'^"'''  -^^  '-■  -'"-  >"'-  civih-., 

n,ari.of;„„ad„„„  ;™x  ;  PTV""'T«  ""^  '"-P™''  - « 

Perceiving  his  danger  it^m T  ''°  '"  "">  ^P""!*  ^'Wrtem 

e.%.  witf  a  ha„;x^thts::™'':";ir'«. '-  .- 

heard  that  a  great  prince,  like  m^selt;  ^totarilv  lift  L  ,  """"• 
Ijeeome  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  st  an2s?  If  T  J  ,  f  """  '" 
to  such  a  desradation  »  h.  „„  .■      7™"8ersr    If  I  should  consent 

■■n,ysuhjec^%t:r  lu     ftrl''ir'T  '°  **  "'^"-""^ 
importunity,  but  at  lcn«h  fl,  J  T    ,      ,        ''"  '''^'*''  "'eir  vile 

jeUc.  i  lei^r 'rptn:?:"  ;ri""''7  ^^  "■" «-- 

dense  ranks  of  the  Snaniard.  C       ..  il  ^'^^^ovtod  amid  the 

•nd  the  people,  .hoi"  'Sat  ^  St-f'"''  ""^^  ""j  '""■•■• 
.ssurance  (which  to  or^orv.  „      T  ,  '  "^"°  '!""=''=')  by  the 

then.)  that  the  Spklr^r  rfriel' °M,  ''^  ■''8"''^'  •■=  Save 
then,  of  his  own  accord,  h  ust,  iT„  P  f  "',"' ''"  """  ^oing  with 
omitted  „o  attention  or  how  „f1  r       ^°«<'''.'>'»  '^"'1  »«ained,  he 

•le  r„,al  establish.en  wa7rcmov*rr°f  ,%"?*"  *'"*  "' 
jacati,  where  he  held  hhZZ      T  ^"'^'""'^  P"'"™  °f  Axa- 

.™-.'  The  nob,»l  :„:  i;:tfraZ;^::;r''';  "°"^'^"' 

appear  to  have  inspired  ?!,.  l,;„i  .  ■  ?""'"'"■>'  °f  '""  demeanour, 
captors;  but  the^gifrd  d  iS''"  T'°"  '""  ""''=°«""  '"  >>'» 
knowing  that  if  their  imllolt'  """<»"?"«'--.  -ell 

A..popn,a.onw„uHrL™\'rS,:::rr  '""■  '"^  ""* 

««e"::rii:f:rp?rSr%r°  '--^  -'^-^  ■"  -^  "'* 

was  committed  fe,  Cortes  "r  rati  J "  "I  f  '""'''"^■-  ™"''- '»'" 
aeruelty,  the  continu^^y  ™  rr^'of  I,  '.'?  """,  P""«™« 
caused  them  all  to  be  burner!  ,lL  f  1  ^''■'""*  '"""'■  he 
f"ncral  pyres  were  eomnZl  „r         '"     ""'  "'  ""=  J'"'"'^''-    '"'''"i' 

lin.  taten  from    he  roj."  ar    nal'T  T""'"^.  "l""'"™  """^  J"™" 
attack  from  the  citizens     Wl,°rt'  '"''""'»■-*  "><»  ''anger  of  au 

victims  underwent  with  tr,,Jr   V  ™''°"'  """"=■"="■  >''"*  «>e 
cation,    Oorte     wia  a'   ,,,    ;™/T"°''°'  "™ "'"'™''  i-"  '^^«- 

=h»hcr  of  th^  uTtult'S:  ;,r*lith  t''',  '""-'  «"" 
_  Vol.  III._9  ""^'^'"ima-     With  harsh  reproaches, 


130 


THE    PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  IIISTOliY. 


he  ordered  them  to  bo  fastened  to  the  feet  of  liis  captive,  and  then 
abruptly  quitted  him.  That  unhappy  prince,  for  the  first  time  really 
awakened  to  the  terrific  nature  of  his  fall,  uttered  low  and  half-sup- 
pressed moans,  while  his  attendants,  weeping,  held  his  feet  in  their 
arms,  and  tried,  by  inserting  their  mantles,  to  mitigate  the  harsh 
contact  of  the  naked  iron.  The  chiefs  reduced  to  ashes,  Cortes  reen- 
tered the  apartment,  and  took  oft'  the  chains  with  his  own  hands. 
Tlie  spirit  of  his  captive  was  completely  broken,  and  he  thencefor- 
ward submitted  like  a  child  to  nearly  every  requirement  of  his 
conqueror. 

"There  is,  perhaps,  hardly  a  passage  in  history  more  curious  than 
this  transaction  in  the  capital  of  the  Aztecs— and  could  the  damning 
accompaniments  of  treachery,  ingratitude,  and  cruelty  be  left  out,, it 
might  stand  as  the  most  splendid  example  of  policy,  boldness,  and 
success  that  ever  was- recorded.  Its  effect,  for  a  time,  was  certainly  to 
put  the  Spaniards  in  complete  possession  of  the  government  of  all 
Mexico.  Little  compunction  seems  to  have  been  felt  by  the  actors 
exultant  in  success.  Diaz,  fifty  years  afterwards,  writes:  'Now  that 
I  am  old,  I  frequently  revolve  and  reflect  on  the  events  of  that  da}^, 
which  appear  to  me  as  fresh  as  if  they  had  just  passed,  such  is  the 
impression  they  have  made  upon  my  mind.  I  say,  it  was  not  we 
who  did  these  things,  but  that  all  was  guided  by  the  hand  of  God. 
*        *        *         There  is  much  food  for  meditation  in  this,' "  &c. 

The  caciques  and  princes  of  Mexico,  unprepared  to  prevent  the 
unexpected  seizure  of  their  lord,  and  still  uncertain  of  his  exact 
relations  with  the  Spaniards,  though  deeply  concerned  at  his  deten- 
tion, continued,  for  the  most  part,  to  pay  him  the  most  loyal  obe- 
dience. Chief  among  the  few  who  felt  the  true  degradation  of  the 
empire,  and  resolved  on  attempting  its  deliverance,  was  his  young 
nephew  Cacama,  the  prince  of  Tezcuco.  Next  to  Montezuma,  he 
was  the  most  powerful  lord  in  Mexico,  his  capital  (Tezcuco)  contain- 
ing an  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  inhabitants,  and  though  by  the 
ambition  of  his  brother  Ixtlilxochitl,  despoiled  of  a  portion  of  his 
territory,  was  an  enemy  by  no  means  to  be  despised.  With  the 
brother  of  the  emperor  and  a  few  other  great  lords,  he  now  con- 
spired to  restore  the  imprisoned  monarch  to  liberty,  and  drive  the 
wizard  Spaniards  and  the  hated  Tlascalans  from  the  land.  To  the 
demands  of  Cortes  that  he  should  give  in  his  allegiance  to  the  king, 
and  to  his  treacherous  invitations  to  visit  the  capital,  this  high-spir- 
ited prince  replied  that  "he  knew  nothing  of  the  Spanish  sovereign 


THE   CONQUEST   AND   IIISTOKY   OP  MKXICO.  igj 

nor  his  people,  nor  did  he  wish  to  know  anv  tliinc  of  fhmn     fl    .  i 
would  00.0  to  Tenoehtitlan  indeed,  bn.  :^':Z^^i:^^ 
to  rescue  the  emperor  and  the  Aztec  ™d,s  from  slaver.  '     7    .     i  , ' 
pr^>nringtoiulfilthispatriotiethreat,iw^ri;^^l,i^;:^^^^^^ 
anc    w,th  Ins  pnncpal  confederates,  carried  in  chains  to^MeS     ' 
Urte  ,  now  feehng  secure  in  his  position,  proceeded  rapidly  with 
tl  c  wo  k  of  survey  and  eolonization-his  tusk  being  aided  by  a  n np 
admirably  dehneated  of  an  handled  and  forty  leagues  o     he  eo's  ' 
presented  to  lum  by  Montezuma.     He  next  exacted  from  that Tv! 
e.c>gn  a  formal  recognition  of  the  authority  of  the  Spunlh  crown 
The  eacque.,  summoned  from  all  parts  of  L  empire,'       Lps' 

be  transferred  to  these  strangers-the  same,  he  informed  them  whoso 

onnng  had  so  long  been  foretold.     -'I  now  beseech  you're    a  d 
0  give  them  some  token  of  submission;  they  requie  it  of  me ' 

et  no  one  refuse.     For  eighteen  years  th^i  I  have  reigned  I  hav^ 
been  a  kn.d  monarch  to  you,  you  have  been  faithful  su^'e  ts  to  m 
since  my  gods  wdl  have  it  so,  indulge  me  with  this  one  in    ane    of 
jour  obedience."     Tears  fell  from  his  eyes,  and  the  caciques  also 
weepmg  bitterly,  assured  him  that  his  will'had  always  been  th    r 

aw,  and  should  be  at  once  complied  with.  All  took'^the  requ  ed 
oath,  m  presence  of  many  officers  and  soldiers,  "not  one  of  Tom  " 
says  a  witness,  "could  refrain  from  weeping,  ^n  behold  ng  heTo^i- 
tation  and  distress  of  the  great  and  generous  Montezuma'"  W^th 
excessive  rapacity  and  impudence,  Cortes  now  suggested  that  a  splen 

■d  present  be  prepared  for  his  master,  the  king  ofspain,  ad  act    - 

Tn  addition  to  the  tribute  thus  obtained,  the  emperor  bestowed 
upon  liis  gaoler  a  great  hoard  of  jewels  Ind  gold  wrou-Tt  with 
.easterly  skill,  which  had  been  amasled  by  Axa.^eat'l,  Ind^'e  exit 

1  covered.  lake  tins  gold,"  he  said,  "which  is  all  that  could  be 
olleeted  on  so  short  a  notice,  and  also  the  treasure  which  I  d  'ive 
..m  my  ancestors   and  which  you  have  seen.     And  this  wh  c7 

reman  of  his  regalia  with  the  rest,  "is  the  last  of  the  treasure 
which  has  remained  with  me."  The  whole  amounted  to  the  v  «e 
of  SIX  or  seven  millions  of  dollars  at  the  present  day,  but  the  a^! 
men  soldiers  hardly  received  a  thousand  dollars  a-pLe,  tl 7] "ns 


182 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   lUSTOKY. 


share  being  reserved  for  the  crown,  for  Vclusque;^,  and  for  Cortes 
and  his  fovourites.  All  the  eloquence  and  all  the  promises  of  tlio 
general  could  hardly  reconcile  these  rough  spirits  to  their  jjalpablo 
defraudmcnt,  and  induce  their  acceptance  of  the  paltry  share  allotted 
to  them ;  but  with  the  true  national  passion  for  gambling,  they  made 
cards  from  their  drum-heads,  and  passed  day  and  night  in  staking 
all  that  they  possessed. 


CEAPTEB   ?nL 

RELIGIOUS  ZEAL  OF  CORTES.  —  DISCONTENT  OF  THE  SIEXICANS. 
—  DANGEROUS   POSITION   OF  THE  SPANIARDS.  —  TRANSAC- 
TIONS AT  THE  COURT  OF  SPAIN.  —  VELASQUEZ  DISPATCHES 
AN  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  CORTES, — CORTES  MARCHES 
AGAINST    NARVAEZ.  —  DEFEATS    AND    TAKES    HIM 
PRISONER.  —  HIS    POLITIC    CONDUCT   AFTER   VIC- 
TOivY. — HIS    FORCES    GREATLY    AUGMENTED: 


Amid  these  miserable  reverses  and  spoliations,  the  emiieror,  de- 
throned in  all  but  name,  preserved,  for  the  most  part,  a  truly  royal 
yet  affable  demeanour.  "  It  is  impossible,"  says  Diaz,  "  to  describe  how 
noble  he  was  in  every  thing  he  did,  nor  the  respect  in  which  he  was 
held  by  every  one  around  him."  On  the  point  of  religion,  however,  he 
stood  firm,  and  all  the  arguments  and  persuasions  of  the  friars,  as 
M'ell  as  of  Cortes  himself,  who  daily  introduced  the  subject,  were  of 
no  effect  either  on  his  heart  or  understanding.  "  The  Devil,"  argues 
De  Solis,  "had  got  such  an  Ascendant  over  his  Mind  that  no  Argu- 
ments were  of  force  enough  to  touch  his  obdurate  Heart.  It  was 
not  known  whether  he  had  a  Communication  from  the  Devil,  or  if 
he  continued  to  apjjcar  to  him,  as  usual,  after  the  SjHuu'anls  arrived 
at  Mexico;  on  the  contrary,  it  was  believed  as  certain,  that  from  the 
first  appearance  of  the  Cross  of  Christ  in  that  City,  all  those  infernal 
Invocations  lost  their  Force,  and  the  Oracles  became  silent."  It  may 
be  imagined,  then,  how  every  feeling  of  religion,  of  association,  and 
of  superstition,  w:us  shocked  when  Cortes  prcjposcd  that  tlie  great 
icocaVi,  the  most  venerated  structure  in  all  Analiuac,  should  be 
yielded  up  for  the  use  of  the  Christian  wonship.     "Why,  oh  Malin- 


TliK   CONtiUKST  ANB   illSTOUV   OF   MKXICO.  j.^g 

Che-'*  be  said   "will  you  urge  matters  to  ar.  extremity  that  must 
surely  brmg  down  the  vengear.ce  of  our  go.ls,  and  stir  un  an  insu 
rect.on  among  the  people?"     But,  after  a  conferenee  with  hi    n  ies" 
'with  much  aguafon  and  the  appearanee  of  deep  sorrow  he  hJav  J 
consented"  that  the  Christians  should  occunv  ono  nf  fl  ^ 

on  its  summit.    Aeeordingly,  an  ima^  V  g"    ^  ^TZ 
the  Mass  and  other  Catholic  rites  wore  now  solemnT ^efo  me 

Thus  fur  the  people,  with  extraordinary  patience,  and  unable  to 
ivorce  m  the^  m.nds  the  ancient  authority  of  the  emperor t,m 
us  nsurpa  .on  by  the  Spaniards,  had  meekly  submitted  to' every  ex 
action  and  encroachment.     But  mankind  will  far  more  reld  lyput 
up  vv.th  any  other  species  of  grievance  and  oppression  than  with  To 
least  ailront  to  old  hereditary  faith  or  superstition.     Om  nou    indf 
cufons  of  an  approaching  storm  were  soon  visible.     The  Tci  n 
an    nobles  held  long  and  gloomy  conferences  with  their  sovere" 
and  the  latter  finally  announced  to  Cortes  (by  direct  inZma  fon 
fro.  Satan    says  a  Spanish  historian)  that  the'^A.tec  d^r^ir 
s^nunes  profaned    were  preparing  the  destruction  of  the    nvad 
For  the,r  ovvn  sake,  he  counselled  the  Spaniards  to  leave  the  X  'i 

01  escape     To  allay  the  public  excitement,  the  general  now  promised 
to  leave    he  country  a3  soon  as  vessels  could  be  procured    an       o 

he  coast     ILs  real  object,  it  is  probable,  was  to  gain  time  for  the 
arrival  of  expected  reinforcements 
Meanwhile,  the  Spanish  camp  was  filled  with  gloom  and  annre 
ensuMi,  and  the  strictest  vigilance  was  used  to  prevent  an  p'ris" 
ho  horses  Stood  night  and  day  ready  caparison  d  for  servi    '"nd 
e  soldiers  slept  on  their  arms,  as  if  i„  the  very  presen      o    b.'tL 
Uhile  thus  harassed  by  constant  fonr  nr,rl  •  •         , 

*•  ,       ,  "^   ^""'''^^"'^  lear  and  suspicion,  the  r  onnrll 

,  ...H.I   loucning  at  Uiba,  contrary  to  orders  h-id  hplrl 
.m  Lucnr.    The  „ew8  which  she  brought,  „„.l  ,],„  ,„,,„„i„ce„i  aj,. 


lU 


THE  I'KOI'LK'a   HOOK   OK   IIISTOUY. 


pluy  of  trciwuro,  (tho  early  gifts  of  Monte/uMui,)  now,  for  the  first 
time,  reuliziiig  tho  gulden  visi(Mi,s  of  Western  lunbitioti,  threw  till 
Sjmiii  into  a  fever  of  exeitenient;  but  owing  to  the  iulver.se  inlhi- 
enecof  Hislu)p  Fonseeii  and  others,  the  agents  of  Cortes  were  unable 
to  eifect  any  thing  in  his  favour  with  the  emperor,  Charles  V.;  and 
in  May,  lu'iO,  allured  by  .seheincs  of  European  aggrandizement,  that 
sovereign  left  his  kingdom  without  attempting  to  si'ttli;  the  eotnniand 
of  Mexieo,  or  to  further  the  daring  and  ill-supplied  enterprise  for  its 
ctjnquest.  As  for  Velasquez,  from  tho  moment  ho  learned  tho  value 
of  the  invaded  provinee,  and  the  defection  of  his  general,  he  set  to 
work  with  indeseribable  fury  and  energy  to  wrest  l)aek  the  authority 
whieli  he  had  so  ineautiously  bestowed,  and  to  aehievc  an  adequate 
revenge  upon  his  treacherous  ally  and  revolted  vassal.  By  extra- 
ordinary exertions,  he  fitted  out  a  fleet  of  eighteen  sail,  well  provided 
with  artillery  and  other  munitions  of  war,  and  miumed  by  nine 
hundred  men,  eager  to  share  in  the  antieipated  spoil  of  the  wealthiest 
kingdom  in  the  Indies.  Pamphilo  de  Narvacz,  the  governor's  fa- 
vourite oflieer — a  bold,  rash,  and  arrogant  man — was  placed  in  com- 
mand, and  the  fleet,  sailing  in  March,  1620,  arrived  at  San  Juan  do 
Ulua  in  the  latter  part  of  April. 

The  Tage  of  Narvaez,  on  learning  of  the  indepeiulencc  and  the 
extraordinary  success  of  Cortes,  was  extreme.  lie  proclaimed  him 
a  traitor,  uiul  sent  a  priest  and  a  notary  to  domaiul  the  surrender  of 
the  fortress  of  A'era  Cruz.  But  Sandoval,  the  youthful  commander 
of  that  post,  one  of  tho  bravest  and  fiercest  leaders  of  the  conquest, 
was  a  devoted  adherent  of  Cortes.  He  set  up  a  gallows,  avowing 
that  he  would  suspend  from  it  any  who  might  show  a  sign  of  disaf- 
fection; and,  on  the  arrival  of  his  legal  and  clerical  visitors,  bound 
thera  hand  and  foot,  and  sent  them  post  haste  ("like  so  many  damned 
souls,"  says  the  narrative)  on  the  backs  of  Indian  porters,  to  Mexico, 
lielays,  as  usual,  were  waiting  to  receive  them  every  few  miles,  and 
thus  they  were  transferred  from  back  to  back,  and  hurried,  bewil- 
dered by  their  strange  conveyance,  in  a  wonderfully-short  time,  to 
the  capital,  .\ccuratc  pictures,  as  usual,  of  the  fleet  and  tlie 
strangers  had  been  dispatched  to  Montezuma  by  his  ofliciab,  and 
though  most  of  the  soldiers  exulted  in  the  supposed  riMiiforeenicnt, 
Cortrs  shrewdly  suspected  the  real  nature  of  the  cxjicdition,  and 
resolved,  at  every  hazard,  to  hold  fast  to  the  brilliant  i)rize  which 
he  had  won. 

Ou  the  arrival  of  the  alarmed  and  bewildered  messengers,  he 


\ 


TIIK  OONdUKST   AND   IIISTOKV   (.  K   MKXICO.  jyg 

treated  thorn  in  tho  most  grnciouM  manner,  "sni.l  m  many  dvil 
tlm.gs  to  then,,  au.l  anointcl  their  lingers  so  well  with  goM,  that  in 
a  ew  days  he  sent  baelc,u.  tractable  as  lambs,  those  who  had  ,s..t 
out  a,amst  hnn  hko  marn.g  lions."     Uy  their  hands  ho  disputola.d  . 
concnhatory  n,essago  to  Narvaez,  ten.lering  subn.ission,  if    he  latt.; 
were  prov.ded  w.th  u  royal  eo.nnnssion.  well  knowing  that  he  inul 
none,     lie  also  sent  the  worthy  Father  Ohnedo,  an  ecelsiastic  n.,,,  ,. 
lar  (rem  lus  w,t  and  gooddnunonr,  as  well  as  formidable  fro,,,  his 
powers  of  pohcy  and  intrigue,  with  a  liberal  snpply  of  gold,  to  .nalcc 
a  party  m  h,s  favour  a.nong  the  new  eon.ers.     JIo  next  reiol ve.l    , 
a  step  oextrao,.d.nary  boldness  an.l  ha.ard.     It  was  nothing  h.s 
than  to  (hng  h,n.sel    boldly  into  tho  enemy's  camp,  and  trust  To  hi 
own  popularity    and  the  tried  valour  of  his  soldiers,  to  gain  to 
entire  eotrunand  of  Mexico. 

Leaving  an  hundred  and  forty  mon,  under  chargo  of  Pedro  do 
AIva,.a  o,  to  hold  the  city  and  tho  captive  omperorf  l.o    e   fonV . 
t  e  ncldle  ol  A  ay,  w.th  only  seventy  n.e.,,  on  his  ;  ay  to  tho  oo. 
kunlorced  at  Cholula  by  Velasque.  de  Leon,  whon.,  with     n  hu  ' 
dred  a,.d  twe..ty  he  had  lately  di.spatehed  to  foun.l  a  certain  colo   y 
he  n,.rched  to  Tlaseala,  a.,d  was  soon  joined  by  sixty  more,  be    .: 
he  late  garnson  ol  Vera  Cruz,  under  eo.mnand  of  thcfdevotcl  Sa  .^ 
duval.     As  ho  approached  Cen.poalla,  whe,-o  tho  force  of  Narva  . 
was  quartered,  he  sent  forward  Velasquez  de  Leon,  a  relation  7Z 
governor,  but  a  staunch  a.lherent  to  his  own  faction  on  a  fresh  omu,^ 
of  msmuat.on  ain.n.g  the  hostile  forces. 

On  a  da,k  and  .stormy  night,  he  arrived  before  tho  citv,  and  ha.- 
angued  h.s  troops  in  a  strain  of  rude  a.nl  forcible  eloc/u  ,^^0  ^ io 
recounted  the.r  perils,  their  losses,  their  wonderful  ac ,    v    .".en 

atcl)  upon  la.Kl.ng  procla.ms  war  against  us,  with  fire,  swonl   a-,d 
I.,,  as  .    we  were  infidel  Moo.-s."     So  tired  ;ere  the  ^oldi      '.; 
Ins  roug  .  bu,  st.rr,ng  address,  that  all  cried  out  that  they  we  o 
.uKed  to  conquer  or  die,  a..d  that  if  he  again  spoko  of  dfvidil 
e    ou,^  w„h  h,s  nval.  they  would  plunge  their  swords  into  his 
J.     Meanwh.lo  the  cacique  of  Cen.poalla  vainly  remo,.strated 
;'  1  ^arvacz  on  h.s  sup.nenes.s.     "What  are  you  doing?"  he  .ried 
an  1  how  careless  are  you  I     Do  you  think  Malincho  and  his  Teules* 
arc  ,so;     I  tell  you  that  when  you  least  expect  it,  he  will  come  u,.on 
3  ou  and  put  you  all  to  death."     But  that  co.nn.ander,  confiding  in 
*  Spirits  or  supernatural  boliigs— diutnons. 


136 


THE   PEOPLK'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


the  number  of  his  troops  and  the  strength  of  his  position,  treated 
the  alarm  lightly,  and  even  boasted,  it  is  said,  that  he  would  cut  off 
Cortes'  ears,  broil  them,  and  eat  them. 

In  the  dead  of  night,  his  adversary,  with  two  hundred  and  sixty 
men,  shrouded  by  the  storm,  moved  warily  into  the  town.     As  he 
approached  the  camp  of  Narvaez,  the  alarm  was  given,  and  the 
invaders,  shouting  "Santo  Spiritol  Santo  Spirito!"  rushed  on  to  the 
attack.    Before  the  garrison   could  get  foirly  on  their  guard,  the 
enemy  were  in  their  midst,  and  though  Narvaez  and  many  of  his 
people  made  a  gallant  resistance,  yet  by  firing  the  sanctuary,  which 
they  were  defending,  they  were  compelled  to  yield.     Their  leader 
receiving  a  disabling  blow,  crie;l,  "Holy  Mary,  assist  me!  they  have 
killed  me,  and  struck  out  one  of  my  eyes."     The  party  of  Cortes 
caught  up  the  word.     "Narvaez  is  killed!  victory,  for  the  Holy 
Spirit!"  was  shouted  by  all,  and  the  remaining  portions  of  the  garri- 
son, which  still  held  out,  supposing  their  leader  killed,  surrendered. 
"With  a  loss  of  only  six  of  his  men,  and  twice  that  number  of  the 
enemy,  Cortes  had  succeeded  in  overcoming  a  force  three  times 
greater  than  his  own,  strongly  intrenched  and  provided  with  artillery. 
This  remarkable  result  was  owing  partly  to  the  fivourable  circum- 
stances of  the  night,  partly  to  the  suddenness  and  fury  of  his  attack, 
and  still  more,  perhaps,  to  the  interest  which  his  gold  had  pnjcured 
him  among  the  new  levies. 

'"By  this  time,'  says  a  witness,  'it  was  clear  day.     Cortes,  seated 
m  an  arm-chair,  a  mantle  of  orange  colour  thrown  over  his  shoulders 
his  arms  by  his  side,  and  surrounded  by  his  officers  and  soldieiv' 
received  the  salutations  of  the  cavaliers,  who,  as  thev  dismounted' 
came  up  to  kiss  his  hand.     It  was  wonderful  to  see  the  affabilitv  and 
the  kindness  with  which  he  spoke  to  and  embraced  them,  and  the 
compliments  which  he  made  to  them.'     Nearly  all,  both  onicers  and 
soldiers,  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  him  as  Captain-General,  and 
were  assured  that  they  should  share  in  the  fruits  of  the  Conquest 
Ihus,  by  an  extraordinary  concurrence  of  policv,  audacity  and  -ood 
fortune,  he  suddenly  found  himself,  as  if  bv  magic,  from  a  desperate 
adventurer,  the  commander  of  a  large  and  well-appointed  force  for  the 
retention  and  extension  of  his  conquests."     The  new  recruits  were 
still  further  proj.itiated  by  the  restoration  of  all  their  horses,  arms  and 
other  articles  which  had  been  seized  on  the  night  of  the  attack ;  and 
such  liberal  presents  were  showered  ujion  them  as  to  excite  the  envy 
and  discontent  of  the  successful  faction.     They  compared  the  conduct 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTOKY  OP  MEXICO.  137 

of  their  genera]  to  that  of  Alexanr^Pr  t„t,^  v 

ished  more  favours  on  the  vamZtiZ    '      T  '"'^'  ^^^''^^^  ^^^• 
him  the  victory.  ^^^n^^^ed  than  on  those  who  had  won 


CHAPTER   II. 


The  exultation  which  Cortes  had  evid^nfl,.  r  u    .  ■■  • 
success  was  almost  imnaediately  damped  bvl^         "'  ^'s  wonderful 
the  capital.     Alvarado    hi,  c\LZ     f..^     T^'''''^  ^'"^"'S^  ^rom 

miss.0.1  to  a  great  number  of  the  Aztec  nob.1  fv  /  f       '^  ^'''■" 

court  of  the  chief  teocalli,  frontirt  tie  Sn  7l  "^''''  "^  '^'' 

dance  in   honour  of  their  Z   U  •    n     ^  ''"''''''''^'  ''  ^r^''^ 

number,  unarmed  a  d  att ireffn  f  ?^^'^^P«^''^''-     Six  hundred  in 

;ui;es  of  Aii,  the; :;!:::;' :2;^';^r  ^^'jiij^^  ^^■- 

fully  engaged  in  this  solemnity    Alv.rado    .      .       u  '^  "^"'^ 

report  ofconspiracy,  with  a  erueitvnnrrt;  T    ^^  '^'^  ^^8'^^ 

l^ad  fallen  on^hes^lefencele ^  4.gs  Juf  ^  '""^^^'^^' 

and  had  butchered  them  to  a  m.n  I     tVo  ''°'^°^'  ^^^'^^'^^>^ 

as  with  water  after  a  heavy  r' in    a„dT  T"l'  f'"  "'^''  ^^'^°J. 

in  80lden  ornaments,  wcTe "  ^dld  ^ithtr  f "  "^^'"^'  ^^"^^ 
their  murderers.     Maddened  0/^'.  « '^"^<^'ess  rapacity,  by 

peaceful  and  subn'  t^  ;^^^^^^^^^  f''  '''  ^^^"^'  '''^'^^^  ^ 
Seven  of  the  Spaniardlwe  fl-nT!!  1'""'''  '^"'"''  ^'^«  g^-^'-^i^on- 
Twobrigantinet;S  reyh;^^^^^^^         '  T*  --ber  wounded. 

f  '  -ilauts,  at  'the  intJ^Z!:f^t;rZ:r^:t';;'  \  '^" '  'r^'' 
the  attack  it  w-m  nnlv  .     r  ^'lo'uczuma,  tinally  desisted  from 


hundred 


Vera 


138 


TJIK  rEOI'LK'S   BOOK   OF   IIISTOKY. 


dred  horscraen,  marched  rapidly  to  tlie  relief  of  tlic  garrison.  At 
Tlascala  he  was  reinforced  by  two  thousand  of  the  hardy  warriors 
of  that  republic.  Thus  strengthened,  he  ])ushcd  on  to  the  Valley 
with  all  speed,  and  soon  i-eachcd  the  great  city  of  Tezcuco.  Every 
thing  betokened  an  ominous  change.  Ver}'^  few  inhabitants  were  to 
be  seen,  and  the  cold,  unfriendly  looks  of  those  evinced,  in  despite 
of  prudence,  the  extent  of  their  animosity.  On  the  24th  of  June, 
1520,  crossing  the  causeway,  Cortes,  riding  gloomily  at  the  head  of 
his  columns,  reentered  Mexico.  The  utter  desertion  and  silence  of 
the  streets  aflbrded  a  striking  contrast  to  the  eager  and  multitudinoiia 
manner  in  which  they  had  been  thronged  on  his  first  memorable 
entrance  iiito  that  ill-fated  city.  Arrived  at  the  palace,  he  answered 
sternly  to  the  relation  of  Alvarado,  "You  have  done  badl>'.  You 
have  been  false  to  your  trust.  Your  conduct  has  been  that  of  a 
madman."  He  refused  to  listen  or  speak  to  Montezuma,  who  came 
to  offer  his  welcome,  and  the  captive  emperor,  deeply  wounded  and 
offended,  retired  to  his  apartment.  The  conduct  of  Cortes,  on  this 
his  second  visit  to  the  capital,  evinces  a  degree  of  passion  and  irri- 
tabili  ,  of  which  we  find  few  exhibitions  in  his  whole  career,  and 
wliicli  was  due  partly  to  the  insolence  of  suddenly-acquired  power, 
and  in  part  to  the  extraordinary  perplexities  of  his  position. 

More  than  twelve  hundred  Spaniards  and  eight  thousand  Tlasca- 
lans  were  now  crowded  in  the  jialace  of  Axayacatl,  scantily  supjjlied 
with  food,  and  utterly  shunned  by  the  ALexican  jwjjulation.  'J^o  a 
renewed  request  for  an  interview  by  Montezuma,  Cortes,  to  the  dis- 
pleasure of  his  own  captains,  fiercely  answered,  "Away  with  hin>! 
the  dog!  why  does  he  neglect  to  supply  us?  *  *  What  do 
I  owe,"  he  liercely  continued,  in  answer  to  their  remonstrances,  "to 
a  dog  who  ti'eated  secretly  with  Narvaez,  and  who  neglects  to  send 
provisions?  Go  tell  your  master  and  his  jieoDle,"  he  said,  turning 
furiously  to  the  Aztec  caciques,  "to  open  the  markets,  or  we  will  do 
it  ibr  them,  and  to  their  cost."  This  haughty  message,  faithfallv 
reported,  increased  the  sullennoss  of  the  aggrieved  Mexicans;  and 
Cortes,  at  a  suggestion  of  Montezuma,  dismissed  his  brother  Cuitla- 
hua,  who  had  been  captured  with  Cacama,  to  treat  with  the  jiopulacc 
in  behalf  of  the  Spaniaivls. 

I'ut  the  released  cacique,  a  man  of  brave  and  patriotic  (diaraeter, 
and  the  destined  .successor  to  the  throne,  so  far  from  fulfillinn'  his 
invidious  oommission,  at  once  took  command  of  the  insurgents,  and 
encouraged  them  to  a  general  assault.     The  effect  was  almost  iinnic- 


ition.     "JV)  a 


diate.     Every  roof  and  terrace  surroundin<.  tl...       i 
covered  with  a  dense  tJironL^  of  aZT       ■  ^'^'''''  "''^^  """^'^ 

of  nu«siles  an,ong  the  garr  L   id  "'"'''  ^'^^^  ^^"*  '^"^^^^^^•^ 

sti'ong  eolumn.  movin/o?  with ' fi     '^^'^■^,^^^"^«  ^^^s  fiiled  with  a 
™l.     I^e.a;dle.oArCe?^L-^^;:^  to  t,. 

edgment,  "under  tC  very  cltl  '' ^'^'^^  disparaging  acknowl- 
Eesohxtion,  .naking  Uslo^  ^1.^1^"'''^'  "^'^'  ^""-'^^'^^^ 
Gates,  and  piek  fhe  Tval  s  W  '^^  Instruments  to  break  the 
Shoulders  to  eome  wi  l.in    ii""?  ,t       T "   ''"^  Companions' 

Ladders  of  their  own  Cei  and  Pil  ^  ^"^'"'"'  ^''^'^'^  '"^^'^^ 
Terraces;  and  ail  in  ge'rexl  ^fd'f  '"  f"  ^^"  ^^^^"^^^  --^ 
I^^e  e  ,  .easts.  ^  ^^^^^^TaXr^-^^^^l 
?^/i«A  ',mr^/U  have  jjtmed for  nallunt  Action,  h    /,t  /""''•*'^.  "'''^ 

All  day  the  contest  raged  with  irreat  fnru  i     '  ?"'^- 
the  ran.parts  with  tin.bc°rs,  and    '       „!  ^  "t'"  '^^"^""° 

"KKie  in  their  dense  ranks  bv  the  a  ■  t  H  °  ""V^^'^^^'^  «f  I'-voe 
bustible  portion  of  the  pd^  td  r  t7i  J'f  T'"^  ^'^^  ^°"'- 
under  Diego  Ordaz,  nude  a  determined  ..II  •<^^"'  ^iy^^n^^^^^,  who, 
NiglUfall,  according  to  the  custn  of  v  ^  ^''''^'  considerable  loss, 
but  early  the  next  mornin'  tTe  Zo  i    "'''  '^^^^^"^  '^'  ^^^^^^'^ 

iilled  with  warriors,  Z^  ^^  ""''''' f^'^^^^^^^ -^ro  a,.  ^ 

Mexico,  and  comn^^ndJ^T^^  T  W 'Suif  '''''  ''''''^''  "^ 
Spanish  general,  as  they  approached  1 1  "'  ^"  ^^^■'''""-     '^'^'^ 

musketry  and  u  tillery  .^  h  .  '  .1'''^  '"  ^'""''"''^^  ^^''^^^'^^'S'e  of 
I'isarm^-  sallied  fotf;;  el'  "'f  •^''^"-^^  ^^'--^t  portion  of 
of  the  enen.y.  II  Xf  t^Tt  T"^'  T  ''^  ^^^'"'^^  -'--- 
by  tbe  artill^,  and  a  ^n!^  ^  tdtl^'r'  T  ^^^^^'^^ 
peration  and  recklessness  of  life  .s  the  S  !  7  !  '  ^'^''^  '"^•''  '^''■ 
before.  " Some  of  our  Soh  i  J  ,  " ^  "^  "f  "'^'"'  "'^'^'^-^ 
Wa,  "that  neither  amonJ  S^i^  ^i' ^  T^V  ''^  T^"'^' '  ^^'^^^ 
iM'ance's  artillery,  IukI  they  ever  s    n  sul  '  ""'  '"''  ^^'""  '^^ 

f-ted  in  the  attacks  of  th.L  I,  l''-?  '^''^'''^''^^^  -^  ^^as  nuni- 
tbo  Mexicans,  that  no  a,n    L  o  i        ^'''''  ^'^^  '''«  ""'"l^^'''  of 

-^-b  warriors  co.::;.^ ;  1^-  ^ij^';;;:  ^^-'--^^  ^f-  ---^th 

«-"nni„g  uith  canoes,  re^.  to  ^,  , '''r"  '"' '"'^  -very  eanal 
Nearly  the  whole  day  was  pent  h  ' r  .  ^"T'''  ^"^  «^^^^''''^'^^- 
Spaniards  and  Tlascdu       aft     V  ''"^'"  '""^'^^  ''"^  ^he 

Joscaluns,  after  burnnig  several  hundred  houses 


140 


THE  TEOI'LE'S  1500K  OF  HISTORY. 


finally,  with  mucli  loss,  reguined  tlicir  fortress.  At  nightfall,  as 
usual,  the  besiegers  ceased  hostilities,  with  the  exception  of  showers 
of  arrows,  which  they  kept  up  during  the  night,  with  shrill  cries 
and  whistlings.  Their  wild  .ininr:als,  they  assured  the  Spaniards, 
had  been  kept  fasting  for  two  days,  to  devour  them.  They  made 
many  other  threat^,  equally  terrifying  to  the  imagination,  and,  at 
times,  with  a  child-like  vacillation  of  feeling,  would  plaintively  en- 
treat that  their  king  might  be  released  to  them. 

Another  desperate  attempt  was  made,  the  next  morning,  to  take 
the  palace  by  storm;  but  all  who  succeeded  in  scaling  the  walls  were 
slain  by  those  within.  Cortes,  founding  some  hope  on  the  devoted 
loyalty  which  the  people  exhibited,  now  resolved  to  try  the  effect 
of  the  emperor's  intercession  in  person.  The  unfortunate  Monte- 
zuma was  exceedingly  reluctant  to  make  the  attempt,  alleging  that 
the  i)eople  would  never  listen  to  him,  nor  suffer  a  Spaniard  to  leave 
the  walls  alive.  Overpowered  at  length  by  repeated  persuasion,  he 
put  on,  for  the  last  time,  his  magnificent  rolics  of  state,  and  with  a 
few  A'/tee  nobles,  who  still  faithfully  attended  on  his  i)erson,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  battlements.  "A  change,  like  magic,  came  over  the 
scene.  The  clang  of  instrumcnt.s,  the  fierce  cries  of  the  assailants 
were  hushed,  and  a  death-like  stillness  pervaded  the  whole  assembly, 
so  fiercely  agitated,  but  a  few  moments  before,  by  the  wild  tumult 
of  war.  Many  prostrated  themselves  on  the  ground;  others  bent  tlio 
knee;  and  all  turned  with  eager  expectation  toward  the  monarch 
whom  they  had  been  taught  to  reverence."* 

Montezuma,  in  a  composed,  royal,  and  paternal  manner,  addressed 
the  vast  multitude,  which  listened  in  the  most  aksolute  silence.  The 
Spaniards,  he  a.ssured  them,  would  defiart  as  soon  as  a  way  was  peace- 
fully opened.  He  commanded  them  to  lay  down  their  arms  and 
retire  to  their  homes;  the  strangers  should  return  to  their  own  laiul 
and  all  should  be  well  again  in  the  walls  of  Tenochtitlan.  As  lie 
concluded,  four  principal  caciques  came  forward,  and,  with  toucliiii" 
loyalty,  lamented  his  misfortunes  and  captivity.  Their  prayers,  they 
said,  were  daily  offered  for  his  safety;  but  tliey  had  sworn  to  their 
gods  the  destruction  of  every  Si)aniard.  They  would  yet  rescue  him, 
and  venerate  him  as  before,  and  trusted  that  he  would  pardon  their 
boldness.  15ut  the  more  ferocious  spirits  in  the  crowd,  enra"ed  at 
seeing  their  emperor  in  the  hands  of  the  enem}'-,  now  raised  a  storm 


of  invective.     Stones  bt 


;an  to  fly,  and  though  the  Spaniards  hastily 


*  Piescott's  CiiiiqiK'st  of  Jle.vk'o. 


TUE  CONQUKST  AND   lUSTOUY   OF   MKXICO.  j^^ 

put  up  their  bucklers  to  shield  his  person,  the  unhappy  prince  re- 
coivcd  three  wounds,  one  in  the  head,  wldch  laid  him  senseless  on 
the  rampart.     Horror-stricken  at  this  act  of  sacrilege,  the  vast  mul- 
titude  simultaneously  uttered  a  terrible  ery  or  groan,  which  resounded 
through  the  whole  eity,  and  then,  dispersing  in  all  directions,  left 
the  square  utterly  deserted.     Their  ill-fated  monarch,  borne  to  his 
apartment,  was  recovered  from  his  swoon,  but  only  to  fall  into  an 
agony  of  grief  at  the  treatment  he  had  undergone.      He  tore  the 
bandages  from  his  head  as  often  as  they  were  applied,  refused  all 
food  or  medicine,  and  was  evidently  determined  to  end  his  life  and 
dignity  together. 

The  attack,  awhile  suspended  by  this  melancholy  incident,  was 
ere  long  renewed  with  fresh  fury,  and  from  the  great  toca^^^  com- 
manding the  palace,  a  perfect  tempest  of  stones  and  arrows  was 
showered  upon  the  garrison.      With  the  boldness  of  desperation 
Cortes  resolved  on  taking  it  by  storm,  and  with  three  hundred  c-iv- 
ahers,  and  several  thousand  Tlascalans,  made  a  furious  sortie  from 
his  fort.     The  summit  was  only  to  be  gained  by  a  winding  pathway 
a  .n,le  in  length,  four  times  encircling  the  vast  edifice;  and  as  the 
Spaniards  slowly  forced  their  way  along,  huge  stones,  beams,  and 
every  species  of  missile,  came  thundering  on  their  heads  from  above 
By  desperate  exertions  they  finally  gained  the  great  plateau  of  the 
temple,  where,  in  full  view  of  the  whole  city  and  the  belcM-merod 
garrison,  a  combat,  hand  to  hand,  was  maintained  with  the  utmost 
valour  and  resolution  by  both  parties,  for  the  space  of  three  hours 
There  was  no  parapet  on  its  verge,  and  the  combatants,  in  the  heat  of 
their  engagement,  frequently  missed  their  footing,  and  met  a  horrible 
death  on  the  rocky  pavement  below.    "Here,"  says  Diaz,  with  enthu- 
siasm,    Cortes  showed  himself  the  man  he  really  was!  wliat  n  des- 
perate engagement  we  had  therel    every  man  of  us  covered  with 
blood,  and  above  forty  <lead  upon  the  spot."    Victory  finally  declared 
for  the  Spaniards  and  their  allies,  every  one  of  the  many  hundreds       I 
of  Aztec  warriors  who  had  manned  the  post  being  slain  or  lunled       ' 
from  tiie  summit.     The  image  of  the  war-god  was  also  flung  down 
among    US  worshippers,  and  the  sanctuary  was  fired;  after  which 
many  of  his  men  being  dead,  and  all  badly  wounded,  CoUrs,  with 
grea    difficulty,  regained  his  quarters.     That  same  ni-dit,  h-  nndc 
another  sally,  and  burned  three  hundred  houses-no  easy  task 'a« 
from  the  nature  of  their  construction,  each  dwelling  was  necessarily 
nred  separately.  •' 


142 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  UISTORY. 


CHAPTER  I, 


CORTES  PREPARES   TO   LEAVE   THE  CITY. — DEATH   OP   MONTE 

ZUMA.  —  THE   "NOCHE    TRISTE,"    OR    MISERABLE    NIGHT, 

GREAT  SLAUGHTER  OF  SPANIARDS  AND  TLASCALANS  ON 

THE  CAUSEWAY  OF  TACUBA.  —  THE  RETREAT  TO  TLAS- 

CALA.  —  BATTLE  OF  OTUMBA,  AND  EXTRAORDINARY 

VICTORY  OF  THE  SPANIARDS. 


Though  his  situation  was  evidently  getting  desperate,  the  Spanish 
leader  thought  it  prudent  to  preserve  a  confident  demeanour,  and 
accordingly  proposed  peace  to  the  Mexicans,  but  only  on  the  condi- 
tion of  their  submission,  threatening  that  otherwise  he  would  destroy 
thAr  city  and  every  soul  of  its  inhabitants.     But  the  besiegers,  with 
equal  spirit,  answered,  that  if  they  could  only  kill  a  single  Spaniard 
for  the  loss  of  every  thousand  of  their  own  people,  it  would  be 
enough,  for  they  had  computed  his  number  and  their  own.     "The 
bridges,"  they  added,  "are  broken  down,  and  you  cannot  escape. 
There  will  be  too  few  of  you  left  to  glut  the  vengeance  of  our  gods." 
An  immediate  retreat,  though  involving  the  utmost  hazard,  was  now 
resolved  on ;  and  it  was  determined  to  attempt  forcing  an  outlet  by 
the  causeway  of  Tlacopan  or  Tacuba,  the  shortest,  and  therefore  the 
safest  of  the  several  approaches  to  the  city.     To  clear  the  principal 
street,  leading  to  this  precarious  moans  of  egress,  a  huge  tower  on 
wheels  was  constructed,  and,  filled  with  armed  Spaniards,  was  rolled 
along  to  attack  the  enemy  on  the  terraces,     After  sore  days  of  des- 
perately hard  fighting,  in  which  Cortes  and  the  otlKi   cavaliers  dis- 
tinguished themselves  by  the  utmost  bravery,  ■      less  than  seven 
canals,  by  which  the  street  was  crossed,  had  been  filled  uj),  and  the 
passage  to  the  causeway  was  at  last  considered  clear. 

The  life  of  the  unhappy  Montezuma,  who,  pi-escrving  an  utter 
silence,  firmly  rejected  all  food  or  medicine,  was  fast  drawing  to  its 
close.  The  worthy  Father  Olmedo  and  others,  with  a  generous, 
though  mistaken  anxiety  for  his  salvation,  used  every  cdbrt  to  induce 
him  to  profess  the  faith ;  but  he  waved  the  crucifix  aside,  and  inially 
said,  coldly,  "I  have  but  a  few  moments  to  live,  and  will  not  at  this 
hour  desert  the  fiiith  of  my  fathers."     ITe  then  entreated  Cortes  to 


was  now 


THE  CONQUEST  AND   HISTOEV    OF   MEXICO.  I43 

prolect  his  children,  and  endeavour  to  secure  to  them,  from   the 

bpanush  monarch,  some  portion  of  their  inheritance.     "YouTlord 

W>1  do   luV  lie  sa,d    "if  it  were  onl^  for  the  friendly  offices/ have 

rendered  to   he  Spaniards,  and  the  love  I  have  shown  then.-thouJh 

i     .  1'-  bro^ight  me  to  this  condition!     But  for  this  I  bear  them  no 

i     ,  I.wdl       Ilavmg  spoken  these  words,  he  expired,  on  the  30t"  of 

,     .T.me,^1520,  at  the  age  of  forty-one,  after  a  reign  of  eighteen  years 

i  '  Sad  stories  of  the  death  of  kings,' 

none,  perhaps,  is  more  strange  and  affecting  than  that  of  this  ill-fated 
^  sovercgn  of  a  half  civil  i.cl  empire,  in  the  midst  of  a  univer  al  r  v 
rence,  hardly  short  of  adoration,  so  suddenly  struck  down  by  the 
,  hand  of  a  mystenous  Destiny,  and  doomed,  after  drinking  theiT" 
I  of  hum:hat,on  at  the  hands  of  his  oj.pressors,  to  perish  by  tho  of 
,  h.  own  detracted  people.  Fierce  and  rude  as  were  the  dd  ^on- 
I     qu>stadors,'  they  appear  to  have  felt  some  natural  compunction  at  the 

ne  ancho ly  fate  of  one  whose  generous  and  hospitable  spirit    hy 

lad  occasioned.  Cortes  and  our  captains  wept  for  him,'  says  Diaz 
and  he  was  lamented  by  them  and  all  the  sokliers  who  hd  known 
Inrn  as  ,f  he  had  been  their  father;  nor  is  it  to  be  wonde  d  a  T 
y  I.,  oood  he  ^.as:  His  remains,  royally  attired,  wer  d  hver  d 
0  h,s  people,  and  were  borne  away.  A  distant  s  ,und  of  wd  , 
nd  lamentation  was  heard;  but,  to  this  day,  the  restin.-plaee  o  1  ^ 
Las  of  the  Montezumas  is  forgotten  and  uninown."-  °  ^ 

\.^^S:^!^''^''^''f  ^  ^'^"'^  ^^^)  P^-'"g  ^^-k  and  stormy, 
■and  eighty  T  ascalans  were  loaded  with  treasure :  but  a  vast  au.ntitv 
« .11  rcmamed  scattered  on  the  floor  of  the  palace,  "lit  ve^  of 
dior  take  what  he  will,"  said  Cortes;  "bett  r  so,  than  that  i^  should 
emam  for  these  dogs  of  Mexicans."     Most  of  thL  soldie r^  1         ' 

umbiance     though  the  veterans  were  more  wary  in  assumin-  1 
burden  which  m  ght  nrove  so  fntnl      Ar  ,        ,   asbummg  a 

and  in  the  dead  oVni  ht     he  rehc    of   r^"       '""^^  ^'"■'"'"'"^' 
nossihlo    .1,-fli    1  •  .   "V  "'^  *^^°  ''^™"-''^'  "s  quietly  as 

i       a  Iks  had  emerged  on  to  the  causeway,  when  the  alarm  was 
g'ven  by  a  sentinel.     "The  Teules  are  going!"  was  yelled  bja 

*  DiscoviMCTs,  &(..,  of  Amurica. 


144 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  IIISTOEY. 


hundred  voices.  The  great  drum  on  the  teocalli*  sent  forth  its 
dismal  sound,  and  with  the  swiftness  of  enchantment  an  innumer- 
able swarm  of  Aztec  warriors,  with  fierce  whoops  and  whistlings 
closed  round  the  devoted  columns  both  hy  land  and  water.  With 
admirable  strategy,  though  doubtless  fully  prepared,  they  had 
deferred  their  assault  until  the  moment  when  it  could  be  made  with 
the  most  fatal  effect. 

Fighting  their  way  valiantly,  the  Spaniards  soon  came  to  a  breach 
in  the  causeway,  and,  in  the  midst  of  a  storm  of  missiles,  succeeded 
in  laying  across  it  a  strong  portable  bridge,  constructed  for  such  an 
emergency.  Over  this  the  whole  army  slowly  defiled,  defending  them- 
selves with  desperate  valour  against  the  Aztecs,  who,  from  both  sides 
attacked  them  fiercely,  running  their  canoes  against  the  causeway 
with  such  fury  as  to  dash  them  asunder.  Another  breach,  ere  long, 
arrested  their  progress,  and  when  the  rear-gun -.d  attempted  to  raise 
the  bridge,  it  was  found,  by  the  pressure  of  the  heavy  artillery,  to 
be  immovably  wedged  between  the  piers.  The  Indians  redoubled 
their  attacks,  and  the  whole  mass  of  fugitives  pressing  forward,  forced 
the  front  ranks  into  the  second  chasm,  which  gradually  became  filled 
with  cannon,  wagons,  and  the  bodies  of  men  and  horses.  Over  this 
horribb  wreck  the  survivors  slowly  struggled,  but  only  to  be  stopped 
by  a  third  breach,  which  finally  was  filled  up  in  the  same  hideous  man- 
ner. During  all  this  time,  the  Mexicans  were  busy  in  dragging  victims 
into  their  canoes  and  hurrying  them  off  for  sacrifice.  Indeed,  to  the 
intense  anxiety  which  they  felt  for  this  object,  the  Spaniards,  in 
these  wars,  were  frequently  indebted  for  their  lives;  for  the  hope  of 
offering  the  hearts  of  the  detested  strangers  to  their  gods  frequently 
induced  them  to  relinquish  the  certainty  of  slaughter  for  a  bare 
chance  of  making  prisoners. 

During  all  the  remainder  of  this  terrible  night  (still  known  as  the 
NocJie  Trisk-\)  the  relics  of  the  Spanish  and  Tlascalan  force,  using 
their  weapons  with  the  resolution  of  despair,  worked  their  way 
onward,  and  by  day-light  gained  the  firm  land.  Cortes,  on  beholding 
how  ^iiw  were  left,  covered  his  face  with  his  hands,  and  burst  into 
tears.  Four  hundred  and  fifty  Spaniards,  in  this  friglitful  passage, 
had  been  slain  or  carried  off  for  sacrifice,  and,  with  the  previous 

*  This  drum,  of  immense  size,  was  made  of  tlie  skins  of  serpents,  and  was  beaten 
only  on  tlie  most  solemn  ocensiona.  Its  deep  and  melancholy  tones  could  bu  heard 
for  lengups. 

t  "Sad,"  or  "Terrible  Night." 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  MEXICO.  145 

losses  onlj  a  third  of  the  number  whieh  had  entered  the  city  re- 
mained, lour  thousand  Tlascakns  had  met  the  same  fate,  and  tins 
with  their  losses  m  the  siege,  reduced  their  ranks  to  less  than  a  fourth 
of  heir  original  number.  All  the  artillery  and  muskets  were  lost, 
and  nothing  was  eft  the  weaned  and  wounded  adventurers  hut  the 
swords  wih  whieh  they  had  hewed  their  way  through  the  enemy 

But  for  the  exultation  of  the  victors,  and  the  eagerness  with  whih 
they  rroceeded  to  celebrate  their  ti^iumph  by  sacrifice,  the  feeble 
remains  of     e  invading  force  might  easily  have  been  overwhelmed 
In  the  middle  of  the  following  night,  Cortes  led  forth  his  men  W 
a  temple  in  which  they  had  taken  refuge,  and  marched  by  a  circuit- 
ous route  toward  TIaseala.     Suffering  grievously  from  wounds,  hun- 
ger, and  fatigue,  and  diminished  in  number  by  desultory  attacks  of 
the  enemy,  on  the  7th  of  July  they  arrived' at  the  summ      of 
mountan.  overlooking  the  Valley  of  Otumba.     The  view  it  afforded 
.•as  enough,  it  might  seem,  to  quench  the  last  hope  of  ever  reaching 
their  homes  in  safety.     An  immense  army,  prepared  to  intercept 
hem,  filled  the  valley,  and  being  clad  in  white  cotton  doublets  Ive 
itheappearanceofafleldofsnow.     Nothing  remained  for  h' al^e 
bu    h   courage  o    desperation ;  and  Cortes,  after  a  brief  but  stirrin  ' 
address,  invoked   he  protection  of  the  Virgin  and  St.  Jago,  and  leS 
his  people  down  the  mountain.  ^  ' 

thatit'broTe  inTo^h'  t"^'  "' ''''  '"'^  ^^'""'''^  ^"^  ^lascalan  force, 

that  t  broke  into  the  dense  mass  of  the  Aztec  army,  and  there  sur 

rounded  on  all  sides  by  overwhelming  numbers,  fo^ht  hand  to  h  ml 

ith  the  fury  of  despair     All  were  determined  to  sell  their  livi 

as  dear  y  as  possible,  and  the  enemy,  exultant  with  their  recent  vi^ 

tory   attacked  with  extraordinary  fierceness.     "Oh,  whatTt  ll  '- 

sa3-s  honest  D.az,  "to  see  this  tremendous  battle!  how  1  elsed 

foot  to  oot,  and  with  what  fury  the  dogs  fought  us!"     Thlgrtund 

was  fortunately  level,  which  enabled  the  lit°tle  band  of  sumv  n^ 

eavahers    Cortes,  01  d,  Sandoval  and  others-to  charge  wT.    | 

effect;  and  by  directing  their  assault  entirely  against  the  chiei^.  who 

were  conspicuous  by  their  plumes,  rich  arms,  and  golden  orramJnt" 

hey  succeeded  in  greatly  disordering  the  .Wxican'ranks.     Thfcon: 

e  t  raged  for  several  hours,  and  the  allies,  fainting  with  wou.  dsand 

^r;T     nf  TP«--^'  -^-»  ^  brillia,:;  exploU^  1^ 
leadei  redeemed  the  day.     Looking  eagerly  for  the  diief  cacique 
Cortes  at  last  espied  him,  in  a  litter,  accompanied  by  the  great  s.uk' 
M  d-ting  ^^^^^^^^^      Followed  by  the  otlr  horse'men.1iei:^d 


146 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


with  fury,  broke  through  the  ranks  of  liis  atteiulants,  and,  with  a  blow 
of  his  Lance,  dashed  him  to  the  earth.  The  banner  was  taken,  and 
so  groat  a  panic  seized  his  forces  at  this  ominous  misfortune,  that  they 
gave  ground  and  retreated,  leaving  the  field  cumbered  with  dead 
bodies,  yielding  the  richest  spoil.  This  victory  over  a  foe  so  vastly 
superior  in  numbers,  is  perhaps  the  most  remarkable  of  any  in  these 
wars,  as  it  was  gained  withoyit  the  almost  resistless  advantage  of 
artillery  or  any  description  of  fire-arms. 


UiLXttliiTitliiai.      <A<<t* 


FIDELITY  OP  THE  TLA8CALAN  CHIEFS.  —  RESOLUTION  OF  CORTES. 
— THE  WAR  RENEWED. — GREAT  SUCCESSES  OF   THE   SPAN- 
IARDS.— SAGACIOUS  POLICY  OF  CORTES.  —  HE   ACQUIRES 
A  GREAT  FORCE  OP  NATIVR  ALLIES.  —  DEATH  OP  CUITLA- 
HUA,  AND  ACCESSION  OF  GUATEMOZIN  TO  THE  AZTEC 
THRONE. — CORTES  MARCHES   TO   THE  VALLEY  OF 
MEXICO. — TAKES  UP  HIS  QUARTERS  AT  TEZCUCO. 


Arrived  at  Tlascala,  the  relics  of  the  force  were  received  with 
unbounded  kindness  and  hospitality,  and  the  chiefs  of  that  nation 
assured  Cortes  that  they  would  stand  by  him  to  the  death.  Eecov- 
ering  with  difficulty  from  a  dangerous  fever,  brought  on  by  his 
wounds,  he  learned  of  fresh  misfortunes — forty-five  of  the  garrison 
of  Vera  Cruz,  marching  to  join  him,  having  been  cut  off,  with  the 
loss  of  much  treasure — and  twelve  others  having  been  slain  in  Tep- 
eaca.  Ilis  followers,  "cursing  the  gold  they  had  lefl  in  the  ditches 
of  Atexico,"  clamored  for  a  return  to  Cuba,  and  sent  in  a  formal 
remonstrance,  attested  by  a  notary,  against  attempting  any  thing 
further.  But  despite  these  discouraging  circumstances  and  his  own 
feeble  condition,  their  iron-souled  general  had  determined  oh  using 
every  effort  to  wrest  back  the  splendid  prize,  gained  by  such  daring 
and  fortune,  and  lost  with  such  ruinous  defeat.  With  his  accustomed 
fire  and  eloquence,  lie  replied  to  the  malcontents,  "giving  at  least 
ten  reasons  for  his  plan,  to  every  one  which  they  alleged  against  it." 
His  commanding  influence  reasserted  its  wonted  authority,  and  the 


II 


THE   CONQUKST  AND   iI,STOUy  OF  MKXICO.  1^7 

veterans  attaclu-d  to  l.is  person,  overawed  by  their  resol.,tinn  tl 
iiiurnmrings  of  the  disailbcted.  resolution  the 

On  the  death  of  Monte.umn,  his  brother  Cultlahua,  the  lo.der  of 
the  ,nsurreet.on,  had  been  duly  elected  monarch  o'f  L  (it;' 
That  brave  and  patnofc  cacique,  his  capital  repaired  and  forttL  ' 
no.  sent  an  e.nbassy  bear  ng  presents,  to  the  Tlasealan  senr  p  o! 
posHjg  that  past  enmmes  should  be  forgotten,  and  that  all  Amllunc 
.hould  nse  to  complete  the  sacrifice  (brilliantly  eomn^oced  a  hi! 
own  coronation)  of  the  detested  strangers,  /fter  f  rt  d^b  ^ 
among  the  caciques,  X.cotencatl  stron.rly  ur-ini?  nn  n,v     ?  . 

U.  proposed  alliance,  -ancient  enmit/ZrovSTn:        J  :;r,  ; 
the  claims  of  policy  or  religion."     The  overtures  of  Cuitlah  n  we  e 
perenaptonly  rejected,  and  the  young  chief  who  had  advo  .    d  the 
acceptance,  narrowly  escaped  with  life  from  the  hand.  nflT  , 

fellow-counsellors.  ^"^^  ""^  ^^  enraged 

Cortes,  recovered  from  his  illness  lost  nn  Hmn  • 
of.nsive.     With  four  hundred  S;:ir^^^^ 
Ila    alans,  he  marched  against  Tcpeaca,  defeated  the  peo^.le  of "  ,at 
hostile  province  m  two  sanguinary  emn<rpmpr.f«       .      ?  , 
ital  in  triumph,  and  reduced  o-rcatnumtrsfr'    !     "^  '^'"'  ''^'- 
Established  in  this  post,  he  rnact  f^q     J ^J,^::  IT::::^'''- 
provinces,  taking  several  stron.r  nl  J.  V  ^  adjoining 

garrisons  to  the  sword      On  o  .i  ^  "'T'  '"^  P""'"^  ^^^^'^ 

thirty  thousand  Mexians  who    IT'"'    "  '^'^^^^''  '''''''  '' 

oflis  disastrous  ral«t  wl  „Z    °  "  °'""'  ""=  "="''"*<■-"»' 

who  remained,  thou<Th  the  snrnri«o  r.f  '^an^'lul  ot  Spaniards 

fo..e  0.,,.,,,  i„sig„^f,„„„..  B„r.  t-mi" , :,:  :r,f  'v 


148 


THK   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


lie  tlierefore  dispatched  his  ship-builder,  Martin  Loijez,  to  Tlascala 
with  orders  to  construct  thirteen  brigantinea,  using  tlie  iron  and  ri.r! 
gnig  which,  with  wonderful  forethought,  ho  had  saved  from  the  two 
fleets  destroyed  at  Vera  Cruz."* 

A  few  of  his  people,  who  could  not  be  reconciled  to  persever- 
ance in  the  enterprise,  he  now  dismissed,  and  by  rare  good  fortune 
his  ranks  were  speedily  recruited.      From  two  additional  vessels 
which  Velasquez  had  dispatched,  and  which  his  partisans  entrapped 
at  Vera  Cruz,  and  from  an  unsuccessful  expedition  from  Jamaica 
he  gained  the  reinforcement  of  an  hundred  and  fifty  soldiers,  with 
a  good  supply  of  horses,  arms,  and  ammunition.     Ho  again  wrote 
to  the  emperor,  of  whose  inclinations  he  yet  remained  totally  i-mo- 
rant,  narrating  his  exploits  and  misfortunes,  avowin^r  his  imcn- 
turn  of  persevering  in  the  conquest,  and  requesting  that"  the  regions 
added  by  his  arms  to  the  Spanish  crown  might  be  honoured  with 
the  title  of  New  Spain.     A  petition  for  tho   confirmation  of  his 
authority,  signed  by  nearly  every  Spaniard  in  the  country,  was  dis- 
patched at  the  same  time.     Having  thus,  as  far  as  possible,  fortified 
Ins  interests  at  court,  the  Spanish  general  devoted  his  undivided 
energy  to  the  task  of  avenging  his  humiliation  and  cnmplctin.r 
the  conquest.  ° 

The  small-pox,  imported  in  the  fleet  of  Narvaez,  had,  as  u«ual 
among  a  people  unaccustomed  to  its  virulence,  committed  terrible 
ravages  throughout  all  Anahuac.    Among  Mie  victims  was  Cu itiulma 
who  perished  afler  a  reign  of  only  four  months,  distinguished,  indeed' 
by  policy,  patriotism,  and  success.     The  caciques  then  elected  to 
the  sovereignty  the  famous  Guatemozin,  a  nephew  of  the  two  late 
emperors,  and,  though  young,  already  distinguished  for  his  coura-e 
patriotism,  aud  inveterate  enmity  to  the  Spaniards.      "He  was" a 
young  man,"  says  one  who  often  saw  him,  "about  the  age  of  twenty- 
hve  years,  of  elegant  appearance,  very  brave,  and  so  terrible  to  his 
own  subjects  that  they  all  trembled  at  the  sight  of  him."    This  fierce 
and  patriotic  prince,  from  the  moment  of  his  accession,  devotc.l  every 
Jaculty  to  the  defence  of  his  country  and  the  extirpation  of  the  in- 
vaders.     Il.gh  rewards  were  ofl^ered  for  every  Spaniard  who  should 
be  slain,  and  still  higher,  if  captured  for  sacrifice.     The  crarrison  of 
Mexico  was  strengthened  and  disciplined,  and  his  .subjects  were  evory 
where  commanded  to  hold  out  against  the  invaders  to  tlie  last      The 
whole  nation,  animated  by  his  intrepid  spirit,  resolved  on  resistin.^ 
to  the  death.  *  n-  p       „  ° 

*  Uiscoverers,  &c.,  of  America. 


THE   C0NQDE8T  AND   IIISTOHY   OK   MEXICO.  149 

Tho  army  of  CortcH,   risinforcc.l   as  we  have   mentioned,  now 
amounted  to  less  than  six  hundred  SpaniardH,  witli  forty  horses 
and  nine  cannon-a  force  in  itself  preposterously  ina.le.mutc  to  the 
vast  explmt  of  subjectir.g  the  A.tec  empire.     But  from  Tlascala, 
Cholula    lepeaca,  and  other  conquered  or  allied  provinces,  a  vasl 
swarm  of  native  warriors,  amounting,  it  is  said,  to  a  hundred  thou- 
sand, and  a.ready  partially  trained  in  European  discipline,  Hocked 
to  l„s  standard.     Leaving  the  greater  part  of  those  levies  at  Tlascala. 
to  await  his  orders,  the  Spanish  chief,  on  the  28th  of  December 
1020,  set  forth  on  his  second  invasion  of  the  Valley  of  Mexico 
_   Crossing  the  mountains  by  rugged  and  difficult  passes,  the  Span- 
lan  s  once  more  came  in  view  of  that  beautiful  scene,  the  theatre  of 
such  marvellous  adventure  and  fatal  misfortune.     "We  could  see  " 
writes  Cortes  to  the  emperor,  "all  the  provinces  of  Mexico  and 
lemixtitau,  both  on  the  lakes  and  around  them.     But  although  wo 
regarded  them  with^great  satisfaction,  this  feeling  waa  not  unmixed 
with  sadness,  when  we  recalled  the  losses  we  had  experienced  there 
and  we  all  resolved  never  to  quit  the  country  again  without  victory' 
even  shou  d  it  cost  us  our  lives."    Meeting  little  opposition,  excepi 
from  desultory  parties  of  skirmishers,  the  invaders  approached  the 
city  of  I  ezcuco,  vv  hich  was  destined  for  their  head-quarters      Coan- 
aco,  sovereign  of  that  city,  (brother  to  Cacama,  who  perished  in  the 
Noche  rriste,")  sent  a  friendly  message  to  the  advancing  army;  and 
on  the  30th  of  December,  it  entered  the  city.     It  appeared  almost 
deserted    and  from  the  summit  of  the  great  tcocaUi,  the  Spaniards 
beheld  the  citizens  pouring  forth  in  multitudes,  both  by  land  and 
water.    Great  numbers,  and  among  them  Coanaco  himself,  had  taken 
refuge  in  Mexico.     Many  relics  of  the  victims  of  sacrifice,  suspended 
in  the  temples-the  heads  and  hands  of  Spaniards,  and  the  shoes 
and  skins  of  their  horses-horrified  the  survivors,  and  increased 
tneir  desire  for  vengeance. 


150 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


O      JjOl       Jim      Ji  tL        JLl      (Lci  t/oj      Jf       J»   • 


THBCAJIPAION  AGAINST  MEXICO  RENEWED.  —  IZTAP»  LAP  AN 

AND  OTHER  CITIES  TAKEN  BY  STORM.  —  GREAT  ACCESSIONS 

TO  THE  POWER  OF  CORTES. — BRIOANTINES  TRANSPORTED 

OVERLAND    FROM    TLASCALA.  —  MANY    BATTLES    WITH 

THE    AZTECS. — THEIR    RESOLUTION. — CORTES 

MARCHES  AROUND   THE   LAKES,    AND  STORMS 

MANY      CITIES. ARRIVES      AT      TACUBA." 

— SINGULAR    DISPLAY    OF    EMOTION. 


IxTLiLXOCiiiTL,  a  fierce  and  warlike  chieftain,  who  had  wrested 
from  his  brother  Cacama  no  small  portion  of  territory,  presently 
succeeded,  by  the  authority  of  Cortes,  to  the  sovereignty  of  the 
entire  province  of  Tezcuco.  Influenced  by  ambition  and  ancient 
enmity,  he  became  a  firm  ally  of  the  Spaniards,  and,  with  his  people, 
in  the  events  which  followed,  rendered  them  the  most  important 
services.  All  was  now  eager  and  active  preparation  for  the  cam- 
paign. Eight  thousand  Indians  were  employed  in  digging  a  canal 
to  the  lake,  which  was  half  a  league  from  the  city,  for  the  purpose 
of  securely  launching  the  brigantines,  when  completed.  Cortes  re- 
solved to  commence  operations,  by  overpowering,  one  at  a  time,  the 
many  cities  surrounding  the  lakes,  in  the  hands  of  the  Aztecs,  and 
thus  gradually  compelling  them  to  take  refuge  in  their  capital.  lie 
first  marched  with  a  strong  force  against  Iztapalapan,  formerly  the 
capital  of  Ciiitlahua,  a  city  of  fifty  thousand  inhabitants;  and  first 
defeating  a  large  force  wliich  defended  it  without,  took  the  jilace  by 
storm.  Six  tliousand,  including  women  and  children,  perished  under 
the  vengeful  weapons  of  the  Spaniards  and  their  allies.  The  town 
was  also  set  on  fire ;  but  the  exultation  of  the  victors  was  damped 
by  the  despair  of  the  vanquished,  who,  as  a  last  resourc(>,  destroyed 
their  dikes,  and  flooded  the  i)lace  with  water.  So  sudden  w.ns  the 
inundation,  that  they  escaped  with  much  difiiculty,  wet  to  the  skin, 
with  the  lo.ss  of  all  their  ammunition  and  plunder.  ^Moreover,  a 
large  detaclunent  from  the  garri.son  of  Mexico,  crossing  in  canoes, 
attacked  them  fiercely  at  daybreak,  and  they  returned,  with  consid- 
erable loss,  to  Tezcuco. 

Many  cities  and  provinces  now,  from  dread  of  his  arms  or  enmity 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTOKY  OF  MEXICO. 


151 


to  the  Aztec  rule,  gave  in  their  adhesion  to  Cortes;  among  them  tho 
city  of  Chalco,  lying  on  the  lake  of  that  name,  a  place  of  considera- 
ble importance.  To  his  demands  for  the  surrender  of  the  capital, 
Guatemozin  returned  an  obstinate  silence ;  but  sufficiently  showed 
his  determination  by  energetic  efforts  for  the  defence  of  his  city  and 
the  retention  of  his  tributaries,  as  well  as  by  sacrificing  every  Span- 
iard who  fell  into  his  hands.  His  people,  however,  crossing  the  lake 
iu  canoes,  sustained  several  severe  defeats  from  the  allied  forces. 

Early  in  tie  spring  of  1521,  tht  brigantines,  thirteen  in  number, 
were  completed  at  Tluscala.  Protected  by  ten  thousand  warriors, 
under  the  cacique  Chichemecatl,  they  were  carried  piecemeal,  by 
nearly  as  many  labourers,  over  the  mountains,  and  safely  deposited 
in  Tezcuco.  For  half  a  day,  the  long  lines  of  porters  and  their 
escort  continued  to  file  into  that  city,  with  shouts  of  "Castile  and 
Tlascala!  Long  live  the  emperor!"  This  extraordinary  undertaking, 
as  we  have  seen,  had  been  already  achieved,  on  a  smaller  scale,  by 
the  unfortunate  Balboa,  who,  five  years  before,  had  transported  his 
vessels  over  the  Isthmus,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 

Strengthened  by  the  arrival  of  these  auxiliaries,  Cortes  resolved, 
while  the  vessels  were  being  put  together,  on  making  a  brisk  cam- 
paign against  the  enemy.  \\/ith  rather  more  than  half  his  Spaniards 
and  the  whole  force  of  natives,  he  attacked  Xaltocan,  a  strong  city, 
lying  in  the  lake  of  that  name,  and  accessible  from  the  land  only  by 
causeways.  The  assailants,  stopped  by  an  impassable  breach  in  that 
which  they  attempted  to  cross,  were  surrounded  on  all  sides  by 
canoes,  and,  overwhelmed  with  showers  of  missiles,  were  compelled 
to  retreat.  By  means  of  a  ford,  however,  they  finally  gained  the 
town,  which  they  took  by  storm,  putting  the  garrison  to  the  sword, 
and  devoting  the  place  to  plunder  and  conflagration. 

Next,  the  allies  marched,  with  little  resistance,  to  Tacuba,  where, 
after  twice  defeating  the  Aztec  force  which  protected  it,  they  took 
up  their  temporary  quarters.  The  Mexicans,  undiscouraged  by  their 
misfortunes,  engaged  them  daily,  with  various  success.  Once,  by  uu 
artful  nuuucuvre,  they  decoyed  the  Spanish  general  on  the  causeway 
so  fatal  to  him  the  year  before,  and  closing  on  his  column,  with  a 
multitude  of  canoes,  compelled  him,  with  much  loss,  to  reti-cat.  The 
caciiiues  fiercely  rejected  all  attempts  at  negotiation,  and  sneeriugly 
asked  when  he  would  pay  them  another  visit.  "They  often  pre- 
tended," he  writes,  "to  invite  us  to  enter  the  city,  saying,  'Go  in, 
go  in,  and  enjoy  yourselves!'  and  at  another  time  they  said  to  us, 


152 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


•Do  you  think  there  is  now  a  second  Montezuma,  to  do  every  thing 
you  wish?'"  After  remaining  in  Tacuba  for  six  days,  enlivened  by 
continuous  skirmishing,  and  many  cliivalrous  personal  combats,  he 
led  back  his  forces,  considerably  annoyed  by  the  way,  to  their  quar- 
ters in  Tezcuco. 

Perceiving  that  any  attempt  against  the  capital,  strongly  fortified, 
valiantly  garrisoned,  and  accessible  only  by  water,  must  at  present 
be  futile,  he  busied  his  people  with  lesser  enterprises.    Sandoval,  one 
of  his  bravest  and  most  skilful  captains,  marched,  with  a  considera- 
ble force,  against  Huaxtepec,  a  strong  fortress  of  the  enemy,  and 
took  it  by  storm.     Here  was  a  splendid  palace,  with  royal  gardens, 
two  leagues  in  circumference,  stocked  with  every  variety  of  plants! 
Thence  this  active  commander  proceeded  to  Jacapichtla,  a  fortress 
perched  upon  a  huge  rock,  and  almost  inaccessible.     The  garrison 
defended  themselves  with  desperation,  rolling  huge  stones  on  the 
heads  of  the  assailants;  but  the  place  was  finally  taken  by  storm, 
and  all  were  put  to  the  sword—the  stream  below  running  discoloured 
Avith  blood,  for  the  space  of  an  hour.     The  people  of  Chalco,  about 
this  time,  also  defeated  a  large  force  of  Aztecs,  dispatched  by  Guate- 
mozin,  in  two  thousand  canoes,  against  their  city.     Overawed,  or 
encouraged  by  these  successes,  and  by  the  probable"  downfiill  of  Mex- 
ico, numerous  provinces,  some  lying  on  the  Gulf,  now  dispatched 
embassies,  with  a  tender  of  their  service  and  allegiance,  to  the  Span- 
ish general.     But  the  Aztecs,  unterrified  at  the  circle  of  enemies 
daily  closing  around  them,  still  fiercely  maintained  hostilities,  and 
even  made  three  desperate  attempts  to  burn  the  brigantines  on  the 
stocks  at  Tezcuco. 

A  reinforcement  of  two  hundred  Spaniards,  with  eighty  horses 
probably  from  Ilispaniola,  now  arrived  at  Vera  Cruz,  and  thence 
took  their  way  to  head-quarters.  Among  them  was  Julian  de  Aide- 
rete,  treasurer  of  the  crown,  and  a  Dominican  friar.  Fray  Pedro 
Malgarejo  de  Urrea,  who,  in  anticipation  of  uncomfortai)le  con- 
sciences, had  laid  in  a  goodly  suj)ply  of  papal  indulgences.  So 
great  was  the  demand  for  tlu>se  consolatory  wares,  that  the  reverend 
gentleman,  at  the  end  of  a  few  months,  returned  to  Spain  with  a 
handsome  fortune. 

Cortes  now  determined,  during  the  interval  which  must  elapse 
before  the  completion  of  the  canal  and  the  building  of  the  brigan- 
tines, to  make  the  complete  circuit  of  tlic  lakes,  subduing  numer- 
ous hostile  cities  by  which  they  were  still  environed,     wlth  three 


r 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  MEXICO. 


153 

hundred  and  thirty  Spaniards  and  a  force  of  natives,  on  the  5th  of 
Aprd  521.  he  set  out  for  Chalco.  At  that  city  he  was  joined  by 
H'enty  thousand  warriors,  dispatched  by  his  allies  of  the  neighbour 
hood,  'and  certainly  attracted,"  says  Captain  Diaz,  "by  the  hope  of 
spoil  and  a  voracious  appetite  for  human  flesh,  just  Is  the  scald- 
crows  and  other  birds  of  prey  follow  our  arn.i;s'in  Italy  in  olr 
to  feed  on  he  dead  bodies  after  a  battle."  Proceeding  southerly,  the 
anny  slowly  forced  its  way  over  rugged  sierras,  experiencing^ con- 
siderable loss  in  attempting,  with  various  success,  the  capture  of 
several  mountain  fortresses,  bravely  defended  by  the  Aztecs 

The  towns  were  mostly  deserted  at  the  approach  of  the  invaders 
Init  on  the  ninth  day,  their  advance  was  stopped  at  Cuernavaca  a 
strong  and  wea  thy  city,  subject  to  the  Aztec  emperor,  and,  from  its 
situation  a  mos  impregnable.     A  narrow  ravine,  of  fr.htfd  dcn^t 
lay  just  before  the  wall,  from  which  the  defenders  kept°up  a  show  ' 
of  missiles,  greatly  annoying  the  perplexed  assailai's.     A  darh  . 
feat  relieved  the  latter  from  the  embarrassment  of  their  situS 
Two  great  trees,  growing  on  opposite  sides  of  the  abyss  ^^id  lea  in; 
ogether,  interlocked  their  branches  in  mid-air.     By-'this  1^^^^^^^ 
ootnig,  an  active  Tkscalan  succeeded  in  secretly  pLng.  T  IV 
his  countrymen  and  thirty  of  the  Spaniards  followed  him-three 
only  being  lost  in  this  frightful  passage.      Taken  by  surprise   the 
garrison  were  disconcerted;    and  Cortes,   having  effected   anothS 
approach,  poured  in  his  forces,  and  drove  them^from  tie ^^7 
was  delivered  to  plunder,  but  the  lives  of  the  inhabitants    .i  the 
jntereession  of  their  caciciue,  were  spared.      This  plac        m^  a  1 

Crossing  the  mountains,  the  allies  next  fell  on  a  large  and  beauti- 
u   city  on  the  lake,  named  Xochimilco,  or  "the  iieW  of  flow  I" 

attempted  by  the  causeway,  was  repulsed  by  the  Aztecs-  but  bv 
fordmg  the  shallo...  despite  a  spirited  resistance,  the  invader^  cnti'd 
the  eity.  Here  a  desperate  battle  ensued,  in  which  Cortes  arlX 
escaped  with  his  hie.  Ilis  horse  fell,  and  half-stunned  by  a  b  ow  ^ 
tl  e  head,  he  was  dragged  away  by  the  enemy,  who  mauifeste I  an 
intense  anxiety  to  carry  him  off  alive  for  sacrifice.     He  w  nllv 

rescued  by  the  valour  of  the  TIa.calans,  and  during  a  pa  t^ 

battle,  ascended  the  teocalli  to  reconnoitre  the  scene  of  Ltion      T lie 
eauscways  leading  from  the  capital  were  crowded  with  troops  ad 


154 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  HISTORY. 


.   the  lake  was  alive  witli  canoes,   all  hurrying  to   the  rescue   of 
Xochimilco. 

During  the  night,  as  usual,  no  attack  was  made,  but  in  the  moi-n- 
ing,  the  Aztec  army,  increased  by  strong  reinforcements,  forced  its 
way,  with  great  courage,  into  the  city.  They  were,  however,  re- 
pulsed by  the  artillery,  and  pursued  by  the  Spanish  cavalry ;  but 
the  latter,  in  its  turn,  overwhelmed  by  the  .multitude  of  the  enemy, 
was  compelled  to  make  a  hasty  retreat.  Both  armies  soon  became 
thoroughly  engaged,  and  an  obstinate  battle,  fought  hand  to  hand, 
was  long  maintained.  The  Spaniards  and  Tlascalans  were  finally 
triumphant,  and  pursued  the  defeated  Aztecs,  with  terrible  slaughter, 
on  the  road  to  Mexico.  The  town  afforded  much  plunder;  but  the 
triumph  was  much  alloyed  by  the  sudden  seizure  of  several  Span- 
iards, who,  taken  unawares  near  the  shore,  were  surprised  by  the 
canoes  of  the  enemy,  and  carried  off  for  sacrifice.  The  town  was 
burned,  and  the  army  set  out  for  Tacuba. 

On  the  way,  considerable  fighting  occurred.  Once,  overpowered 
by  numbers,  on  a  certain  causeway,  the  Spaniards  were  compelled 
to  retreat;  and  again,  Cortes,  with  the  cavalry,  being  decoyed  into 
an  ambush,  owed  his  safety  only  to  the  most  desperate  exertions. 
Two  of  his  favourite  attendants  were  carried  off  alive — a  circum- 
stance which  so  affected  him,  that  he  rejoined  the  army  "very  sad 
and  weeping."  Arrived  at  Tacuba,  he  ascended  the  teocalli  with  his 
officers,  and  all  were  struck  with  the  magnificence  of  the  cities  lyin^ 
around  the  lake,  and  the  vast  number  of  canoes  employed  in  fishinfr 
or  rapidly  passing  to  and  fro.  The  grief  of  Cortes,  on  beholding 
the  scenes  of  his  former  misfortunes,  the  strength  of  the  enemy, 
and  the  prospect  of  renewed  conflict  and  crime,  was  redoubled,  and 
the  emotion  which  he  displayed  became  the  subject  of  a  rude  ballad 
which,  or  a  portion  of  it,  still  survives.*  The  friar  and  his  officers 
attempted  to  console  him,  assuring  him  that  he  was  not  Nero  re- 
joicing in  the  conflagration  of  Home.  Ilis  answer  curiously  betrays 
the  secret  working  of  a  mind  compunctious,  perhaps,  for  past  vio- 
lence, yet  seeking  apology  for  its  renewal.     "  You  are  my  witnes.ses," 


*  "  En  Tacuba  estd  Corlis, 
cC)  su  esqitadron  esforcadv 
Irisle  estana,  y  muy  penoso 
triste,  y  am  gran  cuidado, 
la  vnn  mnmi  en  la  mexillo 
y  la  ulra  en  el  coslado"  tpc. 


"In  Tttcuba  was  Cortes 
With  all  Ills  valiant  crew. 

Sad  lie  stoul  .'".d  very  niouriifiil, 
Sad,  with  mighty  cares  opprest; 

One  hand  lilted  to  his  ehcek, 
And  the  other  on  his  breast,"  &c. 


THE  CONQUEST  AND   HISTORY  OF  MEXICO.  155 

he  said  "how  often  I  have  endeavoured  to  persuade  yonder  capital 
peacefully  to  subn.it.  It  fills  me  with  grief  when  I  think  of  the  toils 
and  dangers  my  brave  followers  have  yet  to  encounter  before  we 

tTthe  work  ""  '  *'"'  ^^  '^"^  "'^^  ^«  °^-*  ^-'  °-  i-dH 


CEAPTEH  III  I. 

HETUEN  TO   lEZCFCO.-CONSPIEACT  AGAINST    COETES  -HIS 

EXTRAOEDINARY  POLICY  AND  SELE-COMMAND.-LAUNCHINa 

OP  THE  PLEET.-EXECUTION  OF  XICOTENC ATL.-DEPeIt 

OP  A  GREAT  MEXICAN  FLOTILLA  BY  THE  FLEET.-MEXICO 

BLOCKADED.-CONTINUAL  ASSAULTS  ON  THE   CITY 

—  COITHAGE  AND  OBSTINACY  OF  THE  COMBATANTS.  " 

AFTER  an  absence  Of  three  weeks,  the  allied  army,  "fatigued,  worn 
out,  and  dimnushed  in  numbers,"  regained  its  quarters  at  Tezcuco 
A  conspiracy,  of  the  most  dangerous  nature,  for  the  assassination  of 
Cortes  and  his  chief  officers,  had  been  matured  during  his  absence- 
but  one  of  those  engaged  in  it,  moved  by  remorse,  on  the  day  befo  e 
Uia  appointed  for  its  execution,  disclosed  to  him  the  whole  matter. 
Forthwith  he  privately  arrested  ViUafana,  the  chief  of  the  conspira- 
tors, and  found  on  h,s  person  a  paper  containing  the  names  of  all 
coi^erned  in  the  p  ot.     The  culprit,  by  summary  trial,  was  found 
guilty  and  after  duly  receiving  the  consolations  of  the  church,  was 
hanged  from  a  window  of  the  apartment.     Cortes,  after  glai  cing 
over  the  scroll,  and  indelibly  impressing  on  his  mind  the  nLes  of 
lus  secret  enemies,  had  destroyed  it,  and  thert,  with  extraordinary 
pohcy  and  presence  of  mind,  gave  out,  in  a  public  speech,  that  the 

Z'T  1  '^"  "'""''  ""^  '^"'"°^^"-  ^^  thus  avoided  com! 
for  of  tl  "•  "'"'*'  TTT'  "•  '•^^'"^•"S  his  already  scanty 
force  of  their  services;-  while  he  was  enabled  to  take  precautions 
against  their  enmity  by  employing  them  at  a  distance  from'^^iis  perr 

The  eana ]  after  two  months'  labour,  was  now  completed,  and  the 
ve  se Is,  amid  tlie  firing  of  cannon,  the  celebration  of  mass,  k  De.^ 
and  other  imposing  ceremonies,  were  launched  into  the  lake.  A  lar-e 
sua  was  nl.ao..l  n,,  board  of  each  vessel,  and  throe  hundred  Spaniard,' 


J 


156 


THE   PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTOEY. 


■were  detailed  for  the  management  of  the  fleet.  The  force,  in  all, 
with  late  reinforcements,  amounted  to  eighty-seven  horse,  and  more 
than  eight  hundred  foot;  and  a  vast  swarm  of  native  allies,  exultant 
in  the  prospect  of  conquest  and  plunder,  summoned  from  all  quarters 
flocked  to  Tezcuco  and  Chalco.  The  Tlascalans  alone,  under  Xico- 
tencatl  and  Chichemecatl,  numbered  fifty  thousand  men.  Half  of 
these,  with  two  hundred  Spaniards,  under  Alvarado,  were  ordoivd  to  • 
occupy  Tacuba,  and  command  the  causeway  of  the  "Noche  Triste," 
while  Olid,  with  an  equal  force,  was  dispatched  to  Cojohuacan,  the 
terminus  of  another  avenue  leading  from  the  capital.  Cortes  deter- 
mined to  take  charge  of  the  fleet  in  person,  and  to  commence  opera- 
tions by  a  fresh  attack  on  Iztapalapan,  from  the  causeway  of  which 
he  had  been  recently  repulsed. 

A  singular  instance  of  the  fidelity  of  the  Tlascalans  presently 
occurred.  Xicotencatl,  between  whom  and  Cortes  there  had  never 
been  any  real  cordiality,  prompted  by  soiuc  private  motive,  suddenly 
left  his  command  and  hastened  to  TIascaia.  This  act  of  desertion 
was  punished  by  his  arrest,  and  speedily  afterwards  by  his  execution 
on  the  gallows,  in  the  great  square  of  Tezcuco;  and,  singular  to 
state,  this  act  of  unscrupulous  violence,  committed  against  their 
bravest  and  most  patriotic  chief,  does  not  appear  to  have  alienated, 
in  any  serious  manner,  the  attachment  which  that  warlike  people 
had  conceived  to  the  Spanish  commander. 

The  campaign  opened  disastrously.  Alvarado  and  Olid,  setting 
forth  in  company,  on  the  10th  of  May  (1521),  soon  reached  Tacuba, 
where  they  took  up  their  quarters.  After  some  hard  fighting,  they 
succeeded  in  destroying  a  portion  of  the  aqueduct  of  Chapultepre, 
and  cutting  off  the  copious  supply  of  water  which  it  had  hitherto 
afforded  to  the  capital.  The  next  day  they  marched  boldly  on  to 
the  fatal  causeway,  the  scene  of  the  "Noche  Triste."  It  was  strongly 
fortified,  and  bravely  defended  by  a  multitude  of  Aztec  warriors. 
Swarms  of  canoes,  on  either  side,  poured  in  a  storm  of  missiles. 
Both  Spaniards  and  Tlascalans  fought  long  and  obstinately,  but  were' 
at  last  compelled,  from  the  natural  dilhculty  of  the  place  and  the 
valour  of  the  defenders,  to  retreat,  with  much  loss  and  grief,  to  their 
quarters  in  Tacuba.  Olid,  with  his  forces,  the  next  day,  marched, 
according  to  his  orders,  to  Cojohuacan. 

The  assault  under  Cortes,  in  person,  was  more  successful,  and  the 
terrors  of  a  fleet  under  sail,  provided  with  artillery,  were  now  first 
displayed  to  the  astonished  Aztecs.     Sandoval,  by  hard  fighting,  had 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY   OF  MEXICO.  157 

taken  a  portion  of  Iztapalapan,  and  Cortes,  sailing  with  the  fleet  to 
assist  him,  gained  a  signal  victory  on  the  way      rtin.  .0     1  T     ? 
missiles  from  a  fort  perehed  on  a'lteep  e lifH"  Th!S  o'ft    T' 
quess,")  he  landed,  and  taking  the  poLion'^Jtom  pttt^^^^^^^^^ 
ers  to  the  sword.     As  he  reembarked,  a  vast  nlLr  of 
(four  thousand,  according  to  some  accounts)  crl:;'!^^ 
to  give  him  battle.     From  their  multitude  ind  tLT  llfanTy  «  T 
native  arms  and  plumage,  they  formed  a  spectacle  bo  h  Lutift 
and  terrible.    Favoured,  however,  by  a  sudden  gust  of  wtd  the  b^^ 
aiitmes  bore  down   among   these  frail  craft    nn,l    T   ,  .' ^^"^  f  ^S" 

asunder  successively,  whelmed  thpiror  !'   ?,  '     "^'^""^   *^«™ 

.u  1  •  ^\  ^"^^^^"^^^  tJieir  crews  in  the  lake.    "  We  hmW  » 

says  the  general  m  h  s  dispatches  "nn  imr..  1  ^' 

I        Those  who  escaped  took  refuge  in  tho  canals  of  Mexico  and  O™ 

I    tes,  followmg  up  liis  adrantage,  sailed  round  H,.     ,•  "''"  ^^■ 

and  terrace  of  which  was  covereXilH  3  if  ll  ""'  '"^•'' 

.atoldngwith  awe  these  r,.:7'j:^,2ZZ7lf:o::!7P 

haughty  strancers      A  t\or  fir;«„  ,  power  ot  the 

b..^ado^hanlta;k,r:i^Tol^^^^^^^^ 

causeway  was  intersected  by  that  of  6oJ^Z'l    %Z  '" 

winch  occupied  this  important  nn.t  wn/  ?  ;        ^  gamson 

and  the  Spaniards  too/up'tirTulr.  3 " l^  itr'h"  '' 
ever,  with  invincible  courage   endp,v™,™j  .       -""c  Aztecs,  how- 

nigh,,c.pcciall^from  tl.ose  K^ins  w  -rrc  '"  T="'",?'  '"^  ""'' 
feeping  up  sueh  .^owe.of  arroTtt  \  e  CuTdo^S  IT'"' 
eomplclelj  covered  with  them.     "  Tho  inultit';^   .       r.         ^  """ 

Ji^ove'red  so  s.ronl' atr  "i    l^^'S  ^^  and  that  the, 
T  inferred  two  thinrrs-  fir>.t  fl,of         i        /       *^'^^'^«lve.s  or  perish, 

.1.0  wealth  „/„*-:;xt;  tr.:  r  n  "t-  '"t  °^ "™'  °f 

1-1  given  us  occasion  Ll  con^^^^  us'IlZ    T'""^'  "'-"  ""^ 
This  terrible  -ivowil  „.„.  r  ,       ,^  *"  """ni'inate  them."      1 

'0  ensure  ils      1  hn  ,        Th     P  T  "''  ""  ""^  ''""°"  '"■^'  •'"'"l""' 

•^e  north,  hit„ertr;:^t  ^'^t  T'::^^:^  ^  ^'H  ™ 

--^'•i"<-a  DJ'  a  large  force      i 


153 


TIIK   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OV  HISTOIIY 


under  Randov.il,  and  the  city  was  thus  completely  blockaded.     A 
general  assault  was  then  made  from  each  of  these  three  approaches 
Cortes,  on  foot,  leading  a  heavy  column  over  the  great  southern 
causeway,  while  his  generals  attempted  those  allotted  to  their  charge. 
Neither  Alvarado  nor  Sandoval,  de&perately  opposed,  were  able  to 
penetrate  the  city ;  but  the  force  led  by  Cortes,  assisted  by  the  brig- 
antines  sailing  on  either  aide,  despite  the  valiant  defence  of  the 
Aztecs,  carried  barrier  after  barrier,  and  filled  up  breach  after  breach 
in  the  long  dike  which  led  to  the  great  street  of  Mexico.     As  they 
forced  their  way,  fighting  furiously,  up  that  splendid  avenue,  the  scene, 
two  years  before,  of  their  peaceful  and  triumphant  entry,  a  tempest 
of  missiles,  from  every  roof  and  terrace,  was  showered  upon  their 
heads.     They  entered  the  houses,  and  by  destroying  the  partitions, 
slowly  forced  their  way  into  the  heart  of  the  city.     They  were  held 
at  bay  for  two  hours  before  a  strong  stone  barricade,  which,  however 
was  finally  broken  down  by  the  artillery,  and  at  last  gained  the  great 
square.     Here  Cortes,  with  a  number  of  his  companions,  ascended 
the  teocalli,  and  with  his  own  hand  tore  from  the  face  of  the  idol 
again  enshrined  in  his  gory  dwelling,  a  mask  of  gold  and  jewels. 
As  he  rejoined  his  force  below,  the  Aztecs  made  an  attack  so  furious 
that  the  whole  allied  army,  Spaniards  and  Tlascalans,  were  driven 
in  confusion  down  the  street.    Nothing  saved  them  from  utter  defeat 
except  the  exertions  of  the  cavalry,  who  in  some  measure  were 
enabled  to  protect  their  retreat  to  their  quarters.     That  this  daring 
and  obstinate  assault  should  have  met  with  so  much  success  as  it  did 
is  certainly  wonderful. 

The  besieging  force  was  soon  augmented  by  fifty  thousand  Tez- 
cucans,  under  Ixtlilxochitl,  and,  with  the  aid  of  these  forces,  which 
he  distributed  among  the  three  camps,  Cortes  planned  a  fresh  gen- 
eral assault.  After  a  repetition  of  the  scenes  already  described,  he 
once  more  made  his  way  into  the  square,  and  fired  the  palace  of 
Axayacatl,  his  former  quarters,  and  a  magnificent  aviary,  called 
'•The  House  of  Birds,"  one  of  the  finest  ornaments  of  the  city. 
"Although  it  grieved  me  much,"  he  writes,  "yet,  as  it  grieved  the 
enemy  more,  I  determined  to  burn  these  palaces;  whereupon  tliey 
manifested  great  sorrow,  as  well  as  their  allies  from  the  cities  on  the 
lake,  because  none  of  them  had  supposed  we  should  be  able  to  pen- 
etrate so  far  into  the  city.  This  filled  them  with  terrible  dismay"— 
a  dismay  not  a  little  increased,  he  adds,  when  his  allies  "displayed 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  the  bodies  of  their  countrymen  cut 


TI,E   CONCiUEST  AND   niSTOliV   OF   MEXICO.  jr, 

.he  c.e."  Wee,,  .,.„„,H„„.  <>:^Jc:!;^:::^z2:  ^ 

from  „eces,,ty  and  from  ,l,e  ,,„biL,  of  tl,o  e„,„bal,,„.,   „  «;.  to 

;;rjfrLr:rj:rn:'':r  ■;,:;' ;; '» --■' '""  --^ 

...e  .icfenee  »„,,  „         h.ole'eZt^f  X^r™"  ^'"''"■'■ 
Ixll, Lvocl,,.!,  ,!,„  fierce  y„u„g  prince  of  Tccuco,  s  .„ali,e,l  him 

and  roproacics  from  his  Aytoo  «^„  *  ^^h-lh,  auiiu  _j,ciJ3 

eral  wilh  his  own  hand  Alt  Jo  T"'  ""1  ''"•^'""^  ^^"'''  ^«"- 
ma,lc  the  most  des  Tr  t'c  c1-  rZl '  ""  T'  '^"'""^  '"''^  "^«"  '''"^'l 
and  C<.-tcs  In-msoir;  ,;^:  0  \-:"^^^^^^  *"  «"-^  »"  entrance, 
Tl)c  Mexicans  Inm^  on  l^s  rear  V!l^  ^'^  ''"''"*  '°  ^'''  «'-*'"?• 

Icssncss  of  life,  that^nearU:  a  l,o°S  °  T  ''"'^'^  '"^^  ^"^  '''''■ 
tl.cy  could  reg.;in  thei^'i  ,  Thi^^r^^^  ^^«^«  ^""-'-^  ^e^o- 
ensuing  days,^ortes  eo^tiC^  ^^^2^:"?^'^'  "^^^"^ 
way,  and  the  Mexicans,  thoui  cLTdlS  f' '.'^^  ^•'°'"  ^.s  cause- 
cavalry  and  the  superio,'  nrn  sof  fh^  ^'^'  '""^  ^^"^'^'"^  *''« 
ret..af  with  great  S.::^  ^  '  T  ^ ::St^  T  7''''''  ''' 
himself,  "was  certainly  worthy  of  admirnZ  r'  T^'  ''"'  ^^"""^'"'''^ 
evils  and  losses  to  which  the;Vere    "  ^^^  '/r  '"""'"  ^""'^^  ^''« 

they  did  not  .eiax  their  pur^it  tiu  2;^'::::::7^-^^^' 


CHAPTER   117. 

GENERAL  ASSAULT  ON  THE  CITY    Ap.r„,rr 

OllABlAllBSTlillctlONOPTHEciTy. 
t«ee  and  eapi.n,;,™,  a      b  nt  i  i/"  ''  "^■"'"'  ""  °™""-  ^r 


100 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF   IIIHTOKV. 


camps,  osjjcciivlly  tlioso  wliere  Cortea  did  not  command  in  itcrson, 
and  onco  aucccodod  in  soiziiig  two  of  tho  brigantiiiPB.  A  numherof 
tlio  Sjumiurds,  to  the  inexpressible  delight  of  hifs  people,  had  botni 
taken  alive  for  siierilice,  and  the  dread  i.ispirod  by  this  eireumstunoc 
iiid>iced  the  survivors  to  fight  to  tlie  di'iith  rather  than  encounter  a 
similar  fate.  A  vast  swarm  of  Indian  allies,  (a  hundred  and  lifty 
thousand  in  number,  according  to  Cortes,)  attracted  by  the  hope  of 
sharing  the  plunder  of  the  Aztec  capital,  now  flocked  ititu  t'"- 
Christian  cani}is,  and  assisted  in  rendering  the  siege  mure  strict. 
They  were  also  employed,  with  good  effect,  against  the  outposts  and 
detached  strongholds  of  the  Mexican  emperor,  and  such  cities  as  yet 
remained  faithfui  to  his  sway. 

On  the  three  causeways,  the  fighting  was  almost  continual,  and 
many  gallant  actions,  both  by  besiegers  and  besieged,  for  want  of 
space,  are  necessarily  omitted  in  this  account.  "For  ninety-three 
days  together,"  says  Diaz,  who  was  with  Alvarado,  "we  were  en- 
gaged in  the  siege  of  this  gr(!at  and  strong  city,  and  every  day  and 
night  we  were  engaged  with  the  enemy.  "Were  I  to  extend  niv 
narrative  to  include  every  action  which  took  place,  it  would  bo 
almost  endless,  and  my  history  would  resemble  that  of  Amadis  and 
the  other  books  of  chivalry."  Cortes,  his  army  swelled  by  vast 
reinforcements,  at  last  resolved  on  a  grand  attempt  to  take  the  city 
by  storm.  Alvarado  and  Sandoval  were  instructed  to  use  every 
exertion  to  ellect  an  entrance  by  the  causeway  of  Tacuba,  while  ho 
attempted  that  of  the  south,  and  all  were  to  endeavour  to  guiu  pos- 
session of  the  great  market-place,  that  a  conununication  migiit  bo 
opened  between  the  oi)positc  camps. 

"On  the  following  morning,  the  army  of  Cortes  having  entered 
the  city,  moved  in  three  great  bodies  along  the  same  number  of 
parallel  avenues,  or  cnuseway.s,  flanked  by  deep  can;ds,  all  leading 
to  the  market-place.  The  Mexicans  made  no  very  formidable  resist- 
ance; barricade  after  barricade  was  carried;  and  the  <litehes,  except 
in  one  lamentable  instance,  were  carefully  filled  up.  But  when  tlio 
desired  goal  was  nearly  gained,  all  of  a  sudden,  the  horn  of  Cruate- 
iiiozin  sent  forth  its  shrill  blast  from  the  summit  of  the  tenculli.  At 
the  sound,  as  if  by  magic,  swarms  of  Aztec  waj-riors  closed  around 
the  advancing  columns.  The  water  was  covcuhI  with  their  canoes, 
and  the  air  was  darkened  by  their  missiles.  The  foremost  colunin, 
driven  back  in  confusion,  was  arrested  by  a  deep  gap,  which  they 
had  neglected  properly  to  fill  up.     Plunged  into  the  water  by  the 


THE  C0NQUK8T  AND  UI8T0KY  OF  MEXICO.  jgi 

fury  of  tlxnr  purauenn,  they  vainly  attempted  to  croHs  the  fatal  breach 
Great  numbers  wore  8 lu.n  or  drowned,  and  others,  a  more  horrible 
fate,  were  curried  ofFulive. 

"CorteH,  who  had  hastened  to  the  spot,  in  vain  endeavoured  to 
aasiBt  Ins  unfor  unate  comparuons.  -  At  the  moment  I  reaehed  this 
brulgo  of  troubles,'  he  re  ates,  'I  discovered  some  Spaniards  and 
many  of  our  allies  flying  back  in  groat  haste,  and  the  enemy  like 

''U  H ;7/"  1  r,  T'  '"^  ^^''"  ^  ^'^^  «"«''  "  ^"•^^  I  began  U> 
cry  Tlodl  IJo  dl    and  on  approaching  the  water,  I  beheld  it  full  of 

Span.ards  and  Indians,  m  so  dense  a  mass  that  it  seemed  as  if  there 
was  not  room  for  a  straw  to  float.        »        «        *        rpj^ 
w^y.' he  continues,  'was  small  and  narrow,  and  on  the  sameTvd 
vith  ,,,e  water,  which  had  been  efl-octcd  by  these  dogs,  on  purpose 
to  annoy  us;  and  as  the  road  w,us  also  crowded  with  our  allL  who 

ivT  '"  '  ''"'^  '?^^'7"  ''''''''y  ^^•••'^^-"-^  --^bling  the 
enemy  to  come  up  on  both  sides  by  water,  and  to  take  and  dcltroy 
as  many  as  they  pleased.'  uoauoy 

"Cortes  himself  barely  escajied  becoming,  in  person  a  notable 
sacrifice  to  the  idols.  Seized  by  six  A.tec'diief'  he  1"  dr  gl^d 
oward  n  canoe,  and  was  rescued  only  by  the  loss  of  several  of  h^s 
f  .  hful  attcn,  ants,  who  laid  down  their  lives  in  his  defence  Ge  tine 
nt  last  to  the  bttle  boc.y  of  cavalry  on  firm  ground,  ho  led  them  on 
a  fierce  charge  against  the  enemy,  and  brought  oi  the  remnant  Tf 
his  unfortunate  companions.  All  the  divisions  retreated  fror^  the 
city,  and  were  fiercely  attacked  in  their  own  quarters 

"Alvarado  and  Sandoval,  who  had  also  penetrated  nearly  to  the 
rendozvoiis,  were  likewise  soon  compelled  to  retreat  before  tli  fur' 
ous  assault  of  the  Aztecs,  who  flung  before  them  five  bloody  lad 
exclaiming  that  one  of  them  was  that  of  Malinehe  (Cortes)  wS 
retn^atuig,  hotly  pressed,  'we  heard,' says  Diaz,  'the  dismal  sound 
0  the  great  drum,  from  the  top  of  the  principal  temple  o^he  god 
0  war,  which  overlooked  the  whole  city.  Its  mour^iful  no  se  w^ 
su.  .  as  may  be  imagined  the  music  of  the  infern  ,1  gods,  and  i  miV} 
be  heard  almost  to  the  distance  of  three  leagues.     Th  y  wereTn 

t^ti^'w    e  then'  t't.kTtl^"'  ^^^"^  "^^'^^  '^  ''^  ^I^*-' 
ity  were  men  to  take  their  enemies  prisoners  or  die  in  the 

a  temp,    j, ,,  ^^le  to  describe  the  fur/with  which  th  I  clo  ed 

upon  us,  when  they  heard  this  signall '  ^ 

"On  tJ^j^^disastr^us^day.  besides  the  loss  of  cannon  and  hoi.es, 


U2 


THE    I'KOI'I,K'H    lU.OK   OK   HI8T0RT. 


many  of  the  Spiitiinrds  Imtl  been  killo.l,  mwl  nearly  all  wonnded 

Worst  of  all,  sixty-two  (mostly  under  Cortes),  and  a  ni.iltitiido  of 

tlioir  Indian  allies,  Imd  fhll.-n  alive  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and 

been  carried  oil"  for  sae,riti(>e.     That  very  evening,  the  dismal  roar  of 

tiio  great  drum  was  again  heard;  and  the  last  rays  of  the  setting  sun 

fell  on  a  long  procession  winding  up  the  sides  of  the  huge  frumlU 

Among  the  victims,  stripped  to  their  waists,  several  were  seen  to  bo 

white  men;  an»l  the  Spaiiinrds,  with  unntterahle  horror,  heh.-Id  their 

miserable  comrades,  with  fans  in  their  hands,  and  gaudily  dcek-cd 

with  plumes,  compelled  to  dance  before  the  hideous  idol,  an.l  tlien 

stretched  upon  the  fearful  Stone  of  Sacrifice.     As  heart  after  heart 

was  plucked  out  and  laid  before  the  altar,  the  bodies  were  hurled 

down  the  steej)  sides  of  the  j.yramid,  and  prepared  by  the  priesta 

below  for  n  grand  cannibal  festivity, 

"Night  after  night,  these  hideous  scenes  were  repeated  in  full  view 
of  the  camp  of  Alvarado;  and  the  Spaniards,  with  sickening  hearts 
wore  compelled  to  witness  the  fearful  solemnities  of  a  fate  which  any 
day  might  bo  their  own.     "  During  each  night  of  this  period  "  m.|v» 
a  horrified  witness,  "the  enemy  continued   beating  their  accursed 
drum  in  the  great  temple.     Nothing  can  equal  the  dismal  impression 
Its  sound  conveyed.     They  were  then  in  the  execution  of  their  infer- 
nal  ceremonies;  the  whole  place  was  illuminated,  and  their  slirielcs 
at  certain  intervals  pierced  the  air.         *         «         *         j^^^^  ^, 
reader  imagine  what  were  our  sensations!     'Oh,  licavenly  God  '  wo 
said  to^ourselves,  'do  not  {)ermit  us  to  be  sacrificed  by  these  wretches! 
For  ten  nights  together  were  they  thus  emplovcd  in  i)iit- 
ting  to  death  our  unfortunate  companions.'     The  priests  ea-'cr  in 
their  horrid  ministry,  seemed,  amid  the  glare  of  sacrificial  fires  like 
demons  flitting  about  in  their  native  element,  and  busied  with  the 
torments  of  the  condemned."* 

Exulting  in  their  victory,  the  besieged,  every  morning,  made 
lunous  assaults  upon  the  several  camps,  exclaiming,  with  loud  re- 
vilings,  to  the  Spaniards,  that  their  flesh  was  too  bitter  to  be  eaten- 
"and  truly,"  says  honest  Diaz,  "it  seems  that  such  a  miracle  was 
wrought.  The  Mexican  priests  now  predicted  that  within  ei-dit 
days  the  gods  would  deliver  the  enemy  into  their  hands.  Terrified 
at  this  ominous  announcement,  the  fulfilment  of  which  seemed  her- 
alded by  their  late  misfortunes,  aU  the  vast  swarm  of  allies  .ave 
those  of  Tlascala  and  Tezcuco,  smitten  with  a  superstitious  panic, 
*  Discoverers,  &c.,  of  America. 


TIIK  C0NQUK8T   AND   HIBTOKY   OF   MKXICO.  igg 

melted  away  n.ul  iMnpemnl  to  thoir  l.omcs.     li,,t,  with  tho  oflsiHtanco 
of  these  fa.tlidil  and  poweifi.I  comljiitons,  the  ChriHtiariH  still  man- 
aged  to  hold  poHscsHion  of  tho  causeways,  n,,,!  thrir  l.rigantines  coj,,. 
inanding  the  lakcH,  cut  oH"  nearly  all  Hn|.i)li(.H  fn„n  tho  holeag.iero.l 
city.    Tho  nppoinfod  i)crio(l  having  pussod  without  witnesaing  their 
.loHtriielion,  the  allies  flocktHl  biu-k;  ,md  the  Spanish  captains,  bv  a 
short  hut  suecessiid  campaign  against  the  few  provinces  Ktill  faiflifnl 
to  (Juateniozin,  conlincd  all  hostility  or  resistance  to  tho  limits  of  tho 
heroic,  but  solitary  capital.     Tho  arrival  of  a  fresli  vessel  at  Vera 
Cruz  strengthened  the  assailants,  and  tho  siege  was  vigorously  pressed 
It  seemed,  however,  that  nothing  short  of  its  complete  destruction 
could  break  the  invincib:.,  spirit  of  tho  Azt(«cs;  and  acc^ordingly  as 
the  assailants  gamed  ground,  building  after  btiihling  was  levelle.!  to 
tho  earth.      The  nuiterials  were  used  to  fill  up  the  canals    and  an 
open  desolate  space,  suited  to  tho  charge  of  tho  cavalry   was  thus 
gradually  formed  within  the  limits  of  tho  hitherto  ahnost-impeno- 
trablo  city.     The  inhabitants,  in  despair  at  tho  destruction  of  th.-ir 
homes  and  ,)alaccs,  cried  aloud  to  the  allies,  who  carried  (,n  tho  work 
"Go  on  I  the  more  you  destroy,  tho  more  you  will  have  to  build  up 
again  hereafter.     If  wo  conquer,  you  shall   build  for  us-   if  your 
white  friends  conquer,  they  will  make  you  do  as  much  fbr'thcrn  " 

Guatemo/.,n,  remembering  the  uidmppy  fate  of  his  uncle,  Monte- 
zuma, still  sternly  rejected  all  overtures  for  capitul.-ition      "Let  no 
man  henceforth,"  he  said  to  the  chiefs,  "who  values  his  life  fxlk  of 
surrender.     We  can  at  least  die  like  warriors."     Once  more  'fi-ht 
mg  under  the  eye  of  their  emperor,  tho  enfeebled  garri.son,  with  des- 
pcrate  valour,  attacked  the  hostile  camps;  but  every  dike  was  swei'.t 
by  artillery,  and  after  terrible  hxsses  they  wore  driven  back  into  the 
city.    Despite  their  determined  resistance,  the  palace  of  Guafemozin 
In.nself  was  lovelled  to  tho  ground,  and  a  free  communication  was 
at  last  opened  through  tho  city  with  the  opposite  camp  of  Tacuba 


164 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OV  IIIBTOBY. 


LiiAiriJoii    aV. 


TERRIPLE  SUFFEUIN08  AND  MORTALITY  OF  THE  BESIEO  E  I).— - 

OBSTINATE  RKSKSTANCE  OF  (I  U  AT  EMO /,  I  N  . — COURAGE  AND 

FIDELITY  OF  HIS  PEOPLE.  —  MEXICO  TAKEN  BY  STORM. 

FEARFUL   MASSACRE. CAPTURE   OF   OUATEMO- 

Z  I  N  .  —  REFLECTIONS    ON    THE    CONQUEST. 


As  the  destruction  of  tlic  city  gradually  went  on,  the  most  fear- 
ful scenes  of  death,  disease,  and  starvation,  were  constantly  disclosed. 
Tlic  canals  were  clioked  and  the  narrow  streets  were  strewn  with 
cor|wos.  Tlic  allies,  eager  to  avenge  i)ast  injuries,  massacred  indis- 
criminately all  tluu  loll  alive  into  their  hands.  Alvarado,  carr^^^ing 
on  the  same  system  of  levelling  and  destruction,  finally  penetrated 
to  the  great  tiaiujuez  or  market-place,  and  took  by  storm  the  tcocalli 
which  commanded  it.  Many  of  the  heads  of  the  sacriliccd  Span- 
iards weie  found  in  the  sanctuary,  alTixed  to  beams,  witli  their  hair 
and  bca.ds  much  grown,  and  tears  cam.i  into  the  eyes  of  those  who 
rocogni/.od  their  friends.  As  the  oi)po3ite  divisions  met  in  tlie  long- 
desired  rendezvous,  Cortes,  with  a  few  cavaliers,  i-ode  through  the 
great  square,  now  abaiuloncd  by  the  warriors.  Kvc-y  roof  and  ter- 
race which  surn/unded  it  was  crowded  with  the  starving  j»opulace 
gazing  sullenly  on  their  triumphant  enemies.  Seveii-dghths  of  the 
city,  by  this  'ime,  had  been  destroyed,  and  in  the  portion  yet  stand- 
ing was  crowded  u  vast  Tuultitude  ol'  wretches,  sulfering  all  the 
agonies  of  famine,  disease,  and  despair. 

Guatemozin  still  held  out,  and  liis  brave  warriors,  enfeebled  by 
hunger,  made  a  vain  .ttempt  to  drive  the  enemy  from  tlie  S(iuare. 
His  position  was  still  tolerably  strong,  and  the  8j)aniards,  their  am- 
munition failing,  were  unable  to  dislodge  liim  by  means  of  artillery, 
in  this  emergency,  a  soldier  named  Sotelo,  who  liad  served  in  the 
wars  of  Italy,  and  wlio  "was  eternally  boasting  of  the  wonderful 
military  machines  which  he  knew  the  art  of  constructing,"  j)ersuaded 
Cortes  to  make  trial  of  a  species  of  catapult  or  mangonel,  for  throw- 
ing huge  stones  or  other  missiles,  liut  when,  after  infinite  pains, 
the  engine  had  been  built,  and  a  stone  as  large  as  a  bushel  had 
been  launched  into  the  air,  instead  of  Hying  in  the  direction  of  the 
enemy,  it  returned  exactly  to  the  ].lace  whence  it  started,  and,  amid 


%im  i,:iff|*fii|Lj-r;,  I,,.,-;- 

'■'Ill"'"  1',  fj'  i'"'  '■  "  , 


'■»;' 


''^■'''^'^iiJpl, 


I,  I' 


THE   CONQ..ST  AND   niSTOKV  O.MEXICO  .^^ 

:^h^r  ;L:^  ^°^'^^^  ^^^  *^«  -^«  °^  ^he  gen...  dashed  J 

that  no  one  co'uld  st  p  ^^'^^^  V'^'t'  "^^^  ^^^^^-^' 
body.  The  emperor  appe^Vlt^ilt^t^^  '°?  °"  '^  '^^^ 
the  last  relics  of  the  Aztec  name  t  '  ^"'^  ^^'"^'^^^'  ^^^h 

.o.sternl,refusedtoHst:r;;Xr^^^^^^^^ 

even  sacrificed  one  of  his  own  n.W     T         ,    P^'^^^'  ^"^'  ^^^^said, 

to  demand  a  surrender     srr'tt^l"  "1  l""  ""*  '^  ^°^^- 
sonal  conference  with  the  SnlZdr/r^^'  ^' '^''^  *«  ^  P^^" 

Ilis  people,  with  aSu  h  td^^^ 
obedience,  though  assured  ot w!  /  ^  ^'  '""  '""'"^^^^^^^  t^eir 
Cortes  ten's  us,  fs  he  r^I  nl  tl  t  ,?""  ^he  Aztec  chiefs, 
to  be  the  Child  of  the  Sun  but  the  sI  ""'  '?'  "^^'^  ^^«  ^^^^ 
his  course  over  all  the  world-^wt  win'  V  ""^^'  ''^^'  ^^"^i'^^^^ 
us,  and  relieve  our  suffering's?     for  "     ^?  ''  ^^'^'^^^'  ^^'^'roy 

Orchilobus(IIuitzilopoS)  ITo     ::i  i^t^  ''^'  "^"'  ^^"  *"  ^^^^  ^^"^ 

The  fate  they  invoked  was  C^lt^?^'"^' "''"'' '"^'^^^«"-" 

August,  152^  the  over:,:,^^  ^  f  ^.^ I^^''     ''^  !!"  ''''  ^' 

wore  ordered  to  storm  the  remainder "    L  cit     Th"'T"'  ''  ?"'''' 

without  a  shadow  of  hone  Ibu^rhf  n .  V  %         "^  '^'^^'''^''  ^'^'^"Sli 

and  warlike  nation.     TW  p   f     ;I?"r"  *''  ^"'  ^''^^^^^  °^  '"^  ^'^-' 

and  wielded  their  rude  wea-mn.  '""°''''  ^^'^"'"^^'^  '"  t'^«  van, 

-ted  for  the  feeblenesrT huZ^^  o7^'^ 

numbers,  and  by  the  superior  "^tthfH^^^^^    '''''''''''   '' 

and  repulsed,  and  the  allies   in  .  i    •  '  ^''"^-^  ^^ere  slain 

»n,l  c„;:,„e„;.od  the  I^'^f  I"™:''"  .""'^  ""'r^^.  «-'<-'  i". 

ws  Cortes,  "and  e,ncd-,IIv  ofT  "'''"  ™  "'"  '''V," 

«li"e  l.c  i,,  but  will  1,„1,1  „„  i„,„,;„;  J    -;•      G"»<"™».„  „.,ll  ,lic 
*r„ly,  "a„<I  ,„,,,,„„  ,.„  „    „  ,  ; .''   *"'  "'°  <^""'I°"" 


'Tnieii  for  drvitl, 


Tlieir  1 


luur  13 


^mm 


\;:  »    -^ 


^^i 


I 


166 


THE   I'EOPLK'S   BOOK   OF   IIISTOUY. 


COMIC."  A -fresh  and  furious  assault,  both  by  hmd  and  water,  was 
accordingly  made,  and  the  wretched  Aztecs,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, enfeebled  by  famine  and  disease,  and  crowded  in  helpless 
masses  on  the  water's  edge,  were  massacred  in  fearful  numbers.  Tho 
bi-igaiitines,  scouring  the  lake,  intercc])tcd  the  canoes  in  which  some 
endeavoured  to  escape,  and  gained  the  greatest  prize  of  the  day.  As 
tiicy  attacked  one  of  these  frail  craft,  a  young  warrior,  armed  witli 
sword  and  buckler,  stood  prepared  to  beat  off  the  assailants;  hut 
when  the  Spanish  captain  forbade  his  men  to  lire,  lowered  his  weapons 
and  said,  with  dignity,  "I  am  Guatemozin;  lead  me  to  Malinclie 
l^Cortes);  I  am  his  prisoner;  but  let  no  harm  come  to  my  wife  and 
my  followers."  Elated  with  the  greatness  of  their  prize,  the  captors 
hurried  with  him  to  their  general.  The  noble  prince,  with  a  calm 
and  resolute  air,  ap[)roached  closely  to  him,  and  said,  "Malinclie,  I 
have  done  that  which  was  my  duty,  in  defence  of  my  kingdom  and 
my  people.  My  etlbrls  have  failed;  and  since  I  am  your  prisoner," 
(laying  his  hand  on  the  hilt  of  the  Spaniard's  dagger)  "draw  that 
])oniard  from  your  side,  and  strike  me  to  the  heart."  The  victor 
admiring  his  heroic  demeanour,  assured  him  of  kindness  and  pro- 
tection ibr  himself,  as  well  as  for  all  his  household. 

'J'lie  garrii-on,  on  learning  the  capture  of  their  emperor,  abandoned 
all  further  resistance,  and  the  conquerors,  having  committed  a  fright- 
ful slaughter  among  them,  were  compelled,  by  the  terrible  effluvia 
from  the  corpses,  to  withdraw  from  the  city.  With  the  night  there 
came  on,  says  a  witness,  "the  greatest  tempest  of  rain,  thunder,  and 
lightning,  especially  about  midnight,  that  ever  was  known,"  as  if 
the  very  elements  of  naturt;  were  convulsed  in  sympathy  with  this 
terrible  fall  of  an  ancient  dynasty  and  nation.  This  memorable  day, 
the  13lh  of  August,  1021,  chanced  to  be  that  of  St.  llypolito,  who, 
on  this  account,  was  selected  by  the  victors  as  the  guardian  saint  of 
their  new  empire. 

A  hushed  and  terrible  silence  succeeded  the  clamorous  and  dis- 
cordant uproar,  which,  day  and  night,  for  so  many  weeks,  liad  been 
raging  around  the  devoted  city.  So  deafened  had  the  soldiers  become 
with  this  continued  clamour,  that  they  felt,  according  to  their  account, 
like  men  who  had  long  been  confined  in  a  steeple,  with  the  bells 
ringing  about  their  ears.  On  the  next  day,  the  forlorn  rciics  of  the 
garrison  and  the  citizens,  varioi.sly  estimated  at  thirty  to  seventy 
tliousand  in  number,  were  permitted  to  piiss  out  of  the  city.  For 
three  day.s,  the  several  causeways  were  covered  each  with  its  file  of 


THE   CONQUEST   AND  IIISTOKY   OF  MEXICO.  137 

wrotcl.ecl,  emaciated  beings,  draggit.g  ti.eir  feeble  limbs  with  such 
pan.  and  weanne«s  that,  s.ys  a  witness,  "it  was  misery  to  behold 
them.       Ihe  populafon  of  many  adjacent  cities  and  provinces    nd 
een  crowded  into  the  capital,  and  the  number  which  peris    "du:" 
he  siege  can  never  be  accurately  known.     It  has  been  estimated  at 
least  at  a  hundred  ar.d  twenty  thousand,  and  by  some  nearly  as  hid 
as  a  quarter  o  a  mdlion      Dia.  says  that  he  ha^d  read  of  he  d"     .' 
tion  0    Jerusalem  and  th.nks  that  the  mortality  in  that  ill-iated  c  ly 
was  fully  equalled  by  that  which  occurred  in  Mexico.     Great  nunt 
hers  of  he  a  hes  had  also  perished  during  the  siege-amon-^  U     n 
n  .  sa,d  no  less  than  tlnrty  thousar>d  of  the  Tezcucans.     A  n:>rtali  tJ 
so  ternble  dunng  a  s.ege  of  only  three  months,  suilicier.tly  iu^Z 
he  valour  and  ruthlessness  of  the  besiegers,  the  constancy  of  u" 
besK.ged  and  the  sanguinary  nature  of  the  combat,  in  which  they 
were  daily  engaged.  vvun.u  moy 

Jfhus  terminated  a  series  of  events,  undoubtedly  the  most  remark- 
able in  the  whole  range  of  American  history      A  n-ition  whi  1 
valour,  by  natural  genius,  and  by  the  far-sighted  po^:  e  f 

h  a  gamed  complete  ascendancy  over  all  surroundhig  province  ' 
whose  power    uid  become,  in  great  measure,  consolidat    by  iTe 
and  strong  m  hereditary  a/fection,  in  less  than  two  years  was\os 
trated  to   he  earth,  enslaved,  and  half  exterminated  by  a  lil^    eo  n. 
pany  of  strangers,  so  small  in  number  as  almost  to  reiser  t      beli  f 

Conquest  in  a  moral  view,  regarded  as'a  niilftary  SL 
must  hll  us  with  astonishment.     That  a  handfJof  advert 
indiirerently  armed  and  equipped,  should  have  landed  on  th     E 
of  a  power  u   empire,  inhabited  by  a  fierce  and  warlike  ra  e  and  ^ 
chance  of  the  r.;,erated  prohibitions  of  its  sovereign,  hav^  fore  d 
heir  way  into  the  mterior;-that  they  should  have  do  e  Z  wh 

out  know  edge  ol  the  language  of  the  land,  without  chart  or  c^  pat 
0  guide  them    without  any  idea  of  the  difficulties  th  "  w    e  ^ 

enco  nter  totally  uncertain  whether  the  next  step  .ni,dit  brir  he. 

on  a  hostile  nation  or  on  a  desert,  feeling  their  way  .lot,  ,,?       7 

"  r;;r'n'  Tf  "r ^  ---'-"ned  by  Lir  .list  e :  '; 

^vltl  the  inhabitants,  they  shouhl  have  still  pressed  on  to  tlie  canita 
of  the  empire,  and,  having  reached  it,  thrLvn  themselveruXd. 


168 


THE   PEOl'LJC'S   1!(J0K   OF   IIISTOKV. 


tatingly  into  the  midst  of  their  enemies;  that  so  far  from  bein" 
daunted  by  the  extraordinary  spectacle  there  exhibited  of  powe°r 
and  civilization,  they  should  have  been  but  more  confirmed  in  their 
original  design;— that  they  should  have  seized  the  monarch,  have 
executed  his  ministers  before  the  eyes  of  his  subjects,  and  when 
driven  forth  witli  ruin  from  the  gates,  have  gathered  their  scattered 
wreck  together,  and,  after  a  system  of  operations,  pursued  with  con- 
summate policy  and  daring,  have  succeeded  in  overturning  the  cap- 
ital, and  establishing  their  sway  over  the  country ;— that  all  this 
should  have  been  so  effected  by  a  mere  handful  of  indigent  adven- 
turers, is  a  fact  little  short  of  the  miraculous— too  startling  for  the 
probabilities  demanded  by  fiction,  and  without  a  parallel  in  the  paires 
of  history."  ^  ^ 


CHAPTEH   X?I. 

THE  TORTURE  OP  G  F  A  TESf  OZIN,  — SEXTL  EMENT  OF  THE   COUN- 
TRY.—FRESH    ENTERPRISES.— OFFICES   AND   TITLES   CON- 
FERRED ON  CORTES.  — HIS  OSTENTATION.  — HIS  SAGACIOUS 
POLICY. GREAT  EXTENSION  OF  THE  SPANISH  TERRI- 
TORY.—THE   REVOLT   OF   OLID.  — TERRIBLE    MARCH 
TO  HONDURAS.  — THE  MURDEI^  OP  GUATEMOZIN. 


Success  so  wonderful  might  well  seem  to  excuse  a  commensurate 
exultation.  The  victors,  their  sanguinary  triumph  comj)leted,  sat 
down  to  a  feast,  enlivened  by  the  generous  wine  of  Spain,  their  lon-r 
abstmenoe  from  which,  while  it  gave  a  double  zest  to  the  genial 
draught,  heiglitened  its  exhileruting  effect.  The  revelry  at  list 
waxed  so  frantic,  that  Father  Olmedo,  scandalized  at  the  scene,  inter- 
fered, and  a  solemn  religious  ceremonial,  by  his  direction,  was  per- 
formed  as  the  litter  celel)ratiou  of  the  triumph  of  the  fliith. 

A  mo..t  disgraceful  scene  was  presently  enacted.  Disappointed  by 
the  smallness  of  the  booty  (for  the  garrison,  as  a  last  revenge,  had 
sunk  or  destroyed  tlieir  treasures)  the  rapacious  soldiery  demanded 
that  Guatemozin  should  be  tortured  to  effect  a  discovery  Coi'tcs 
feanng  to  irritate  them  by  refusal,  and  perhaps  sharin-  in  tlieir 
raprcious  cruelty,  to  his  eternal  dishonour,  complied.     But  the  youn- 


emperor  witlistood  tlieir  diabolical  devices  with  tl,„  ., 

and  firmness  which  he  had  di.„l..     i     ™',  ""^  "lo  s»me  courage 

chief  of  Tacuba  1  i  rchtivl  "^  f  '"  *"  '^''^"'"'  "^  ^''  ''^'y-  '"'= 
groaned  alo„d,  iZCZJ^l^ZfT^  •'"  *=  ^"-^  '-=' 
iiess  by  the  significant  rem,rr"Ti!,^  ''■^Pn'ssion  of  feeble- 
my  pleasure  iu  theta  1  "  n' ,h^^  ^°"  '"'''  ""="'  "'"'  ^  ""  '"'''"8 
...elvowal  that  .>.e  tlurefh  ^  r™:^*  ht M  'T  '"^°"'' 
all  attempts  to  find  the  lost  valuabl  cs^Z^fr  "it  o  s  "'  ''°'  "T^ 
™.  ^^.scov^ed  iu  a  pond  in  the  p ^  bol^ltrhfri^t;: 

the  old  imperial  ini"    a„7  le  Win"    Tr"""'  ^""'"'"'''"S 
overawed  opposition  in  near  -  all  tf  '  '""*'"  ""•^""-'^ 

former  A.tcc'^etnpire.  and"  l^l^bl  t  ./bTrs'To  77' ^^  "= 
immediate  submission  to  the  victors     Tn,      !,  '"'"^  '" 

indeed,  a  formidable  opposition  u^'  ,  ''"""°'  "^  ^'••'"™». 

will,  gieat  ferocity  and  cru  kv  bv  T'""""f-  '""«■•■"' ™PFOssed 
tl.an  .our  "-dreLa',:  tlg^eJe TS :"n':;'  'r,""™''  ""  ''=^' 
Iows-"by  which  means,  God  if-  pra  °  ,  »?  n  "  "'  "'"  «"'• 
I'k  report,  "the  province  wl  ,X  d  '  T^'  °u°''  P'"'"''^''  '» 
immediately  after  his  trinml    I  '°f°"='',"'  '■■'"Kluillity."     Almost 

n.n..e  .hcir^vay  ^^Til^i'l/Z'^r^"^ '^^'T  '"'° 

course,  were  speedily  reduced  V^'':'''  ""T'  "'  »  ">'""='  »f 
■.lone,  on  account  of  th  "r  c,  "v  ,'  fl  ^r'^S-^-'l-  Tl-eala„s 
"-■l,  perhaps,  as  their  »  lit  id  Tub,  "r'  T'"'  "*'''>•'  <- 
c.np.e.i  Fulfilling  the  clespl^g  .^ ^  l,"  H'"''  '"'"^  r 
-Izrces,  Cortes  at  once  emplovcd  a  vL,  ,        vanquished 

,W^li%',  ou  a  nn.gniflcen';  i      „;r  ;r  r^  °^^^-'»  "'  '■^■ 

Mex,colVitl,in  four  years,  an„,Lr,";itvwr"    ""'""'  "' 
ilrals,  ami  fortresses    »  a,  „„,„„i  „,      °  •>'  "'"'  P»laecs,  calho. 

'"f  opoiis  so  .erribivrd'Xx:,:!;:}'  '"^  °'  '■-  ^■'-"■"•> 

received  li-om  tl>o  Spanish  conlttU      r  \        >"°''"'''  ^"'^^^''  '^^^^  ""* 
or  disapproval.     Thi         v      '  \   "  '"^^'^'''^'^■'^^  '"^''-^^'0"  of  Us  ra^•our 

— '  ° ^'  '"^  prize  al 


J 


170 


TIIK  I'KOl'LE'S  HOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


stal<r,  till'  course  of  tlio  govenunout  scciiia  to  Imvo  been  unusually 
diliitory  and  indccMsivc.  FoiiHcca,  who  Hlill  lieUl  llic  control  of 
Indian  alVairs,  lind  indeed,  at  the  instigalion  of  Velasquez,  appointed 
a  eoinniissioner,  with  authority  to  examine  th.-.'  alTairH  of  the  province 
and  even  to  seize  the  person  and  property  of  the  general;  but  that 
olReer,  arriving  not  long  after  the  conquest,  was  induced,  partly  by 
force  and  partly  by  bribery,  to  rid  the  country  of  hia  i)reaence.  On 
tlu;  return  of  Charles  V.,  in  July,  1522,  to  his  Spanish  dominions, 
his  ears  were  immediately  fdled  with  clamorous  accusation  and  lierco 
vindication  of  the  conduct  of  Cortes.  He  referred  the  whole  all'uir 
to  a  High  Commi.ssion,  which,  after  an  im})artial  investigatiuii, 
impressed  with  the  extraordinary  achievements  of  the  Conqueror, 
decided  nearly  every  thing  in  his  favour.  In  October  of  the  saino 
year,  he  was  aj^pointed  governor,  captain-general,  and  judge  i)f  all 
New  SjKiin,  almost  the  entire  authority,  both  military  and  civil 
being  centred  in  his  single  person.  His  favourite  ofliccrs  were  pro- 
jiortionably  rewarded,  and  the  common  .soldiers  received  an  abuml- 
anee  of  flallering  promi.ses.  JJoth  Fonseca  and  Vehusquez  died  shorily 
after  this  signal  di-scomfiture— it  is  said,  of  chagrin  and  mortilicatiuu 
at  the  triunq)h  of  their  adversary. 

The  victor,  even  before  the  receipt  of  these  welcome  tidings,  took 
thc  most  prompt  and  energetic  measures  for  the  settlemtmt  and 
extension  of  his  realms.  Numerous  adventurers,  attracted  by  his 
liberal  ollens,  flocked  to  the  shores  of  iMexico,  and  Spanish  colonies 
were  planted  in  all  directions,  even  as  far  as  California.  ^IVj  increase 
the  population,  all  married  men  were  obliged  to  bring  their  wives 
and  all  bachelors,  under  stringent  liabilities,  to  marry— a  sumptuary 
measure,  professedly  for  the  good  oi'  their  souls,  and  to  which  the 
legislator  himself,  with  some  chagrin,  was  compelled  to  conform,  by  the 
unexpected  arrival  of  his  own  wife.  Donna  C.italina,  Irom  Cuba.  She 
did  not  long  survive  her  arrival  Elated  wiUi  triumj)!],  the  governor, 
immediately  on  receiving  his  commissions,  assumed  an  alnmst  re<ral 
state  and  dignity.  Every  where  lie  wenc,  .'ittended  by  an  immeSo 
retinue,  fit  for  a  king,  with  conquered  cav'iqaes  riding  in  his  train 
and  all  the  populace,  as  in  the  days  of  thth  ancient  sovereigns,  cast 
themselves  on  their  flices  by  the  road.-side  as  he  passed. 

Abounding  in  natural  wealth,  cvm  stocked  with  a  vast  multitude 
of  submissive  laborers,  the  great  colony  of  New  Spain  s])eedily 
became  the  most  valuable  i)ossession  of  the  Spanish  crown.  Within 
three  years  from  the  destruction  of  the  capital,  a  vast  extent  of 


country   ,no.usuring   according  tc,  Cortes,  four  hun.lml  loa-n.os  on 
tl.0  I  acl.c  coast  and  live  hundred  on  tl.at  of  the  Atlantic,  l.a.l  Le 
bmug^.t  under  tl.e  «way  of  tl.e  Spanianls,  an,l  the  native  i  .     1  i H,^ 
HCt  led  n.  obcd.ence  to  their  conquerons.     These  peopl.  ^ 

Htato,(cons,denngtho  reluctance  of  n.ankind  to  .din.  n,;, 
horrors,)   rece.ved   Christianity    with    remarkable    readi.  e  s  ^      « 
PrancKscan  fnars,  of  whon>  the  ilrst  deputation  arrived   in"  10' 
boasted  that,  n.  less  than  twenty  year,  nine  n.illions ^      , "i,  ^^ 
gr  ^  cxaggerafon)  had  been  gathered  within  the  pale  of  th       Zh 
Ihe  governor,  his  ambition  unquenched  bv  •>  «,„         ' ;"""^"- 

U^hantof  Insage,  continually  agiLS.e^t::~te^^^ 
;l.t.on  wh.ch  he  ntted  out,  under  the  ferocious   aZ.^ ^^Z 

inunense  expense  of  human  life  and  sun-cring  brou-d^u    h      i 
the  wealthy  regions  of  Guatemala      TTo  .V      .  ^  Ins  sway 

ni;i  *     II      1  V  '^"'"^■"'i^a.     lie  dispatched  another  under 

Ohd,  to  IJondura.,  and  made  vain  attempts  to  discover  the  Ion    en 
joctured  strait  which  should  unite  the  Atlantic    ."^tr'"" 
la  ter  oilicer  of  a  haughty  and  seditious  nature,  after  es       i  iun' 
colony  on   the  shore   nf  iUn   „-,..,  •  ^■luiujihuing  a 

««i.o*y  of .1  „  gZnt  d  0  „,';:::"«'  "'^"V""^'"-'  "■" 

AVI       n    .     ,    °  ,     ,    ,'  J^'^'^'^'^'^priiioipa  tyof  hisown 

AVI  en  Urtes  heard  of  this  daring  defection,  the  veins  of  1.17  In,  i 

n-ing  to  i^nduras  through  ^:::iczz::i2:2j 

It  was  m  Oetober,  1524,  that,  with  ordy  a  hundred  elv  dry     ,d 
three  or  four  thousand  Indians,  he  set  forth  on  this  terrible  ad vitu 
the  toils  and  penis  of  .hich  were  too  numerous  to  be  r    o^  1^ 
those  pages.     For  many  months,  enduring  every  extrernUvo    L 

rveis.     Ills  mind    distracted  by  weariness  and   obstacles    .t  l.st 
became  moody  and  irritable,  and  by  a  fresh  crime  he  ir  pri     ^d  a 
1  ew  and  m.lelible  stain  on  his  memory.     The  unf^rtunrCn  t 
.n  .  o,.,  Ureading  his  innuenee  witlfth-  n^i::!^';:     ^^^l^ 
^Mth  him,  was  accused,  on  the  most  false  and  frivolous  oround     of 
a  ])ro,,octed  conspiracy;  and  Cortes,  anxious,  no  dou  "  to  b    Hd  of 

an  object  o    perpetual  jealousy,  after  the  mere  prete  «;  of  an      vc^ 
|g.U.on,  or  ered  his  execution.     The  prince,  with  the  c"  I  f" 

couiage  and  innocence,  said,  "Malinehe!  here  your  false  woX   d 
onuses  have  ended     in  my  death.    I  should  have  fallen  i;"      own 

l>and,  n.  n.y  city  of  Mexico,  rather  than  have  trusted  myself  to  vou 


172 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


Why  do  you  unjustly  take  my  life?  May  God  demand  of  you  tins 
innocent  blood!"  lie  was  hanged,  with  the  caeic^ue  of  Tacuba,  and 
other  ehiefri,  upon  a  huge  Ceiba-tree.  They  died,  we  are  told,  "like 
good  Christians,  ami,  for  Indians,  most  piously;"  and  among  even 
the  rough  spirits  by  whom  Cortes  w;n  surrounded,  there  was  but 
one  oj)inion,  that  the  sentence  was  unjust  and  cruel  in  the  extreme. 


uiiAiriiliii    AVii. 

ARRIVAL   AT   HONDURAS.  —  USURPATION    IN    MEXICO,  —  OBSE- 

aUIKS  AND  MASSES  PERVORMKD  FOR  CORTES. HIS  RETURN. 

—  SUSPICION  O.P  THE  COURT. CORTES  SA1J,S  TO  SPAIN. 

HONOURS  BESTOWED  ON  HIM.  —  RETURNS  TO  MEXICO. — 
EXPENSIVE  EXPEDITIONS. — CORTES  AGAIN  RETURNS 

TO  SPAIN. UNSUCCESSFUL  AT  COURT.  —  HIS  DEATH. 

HIS  CHARACTER.  —  PATE  OF  THE  CONQUERORS. 


After  enduring  extreme  suffering,  the  relics  of  the  Sj)anish  force 
finally  arrived  at  Honduras,  where  Cortes  learned  that  his  authority 
had  already  been  restored  by  a  counter-revolution,  planned  by  his 
friends,  and  that  Olid  was  already  beheaded.  With  his  accustomed 
energy,  he  immediately  busied  himself  in  fresh  exploration,  but  was 
arretted  in  the  midst  of  extensive  schemes  of  discovery  and  conquest 
b}^  the  tidings  that  his  deputies  in  Mexico  had  usurped  the  govern- 
ment. Catching  at  a  vague  rumour,  that,  with  his  army,  he  had 
perished  in  the  swamps  of  Chiajias,  they  had  seized  all  his  property, 
with  a  part  of  which  they  propitiated  the  church  by  the  purchase 
of  eternal  masses  for  his  soul.  Further  to  colour  the  report,  the  fac- 
tor, with  great  ceremony,  erected  a  monument  to  his  memory,  "and 
then,"  says  Diaz,  "proclaimed  himself  governor  and  captain-general 
of  Xew  Spain,  with  the  sound  of  Kettle-drums  and  trumpets,  and 
issued  out  an  order  that  all  women  who  had  any  regard  for  their 
souls,  and  whose  hu.sbands  had  gone  with  Cortes,  should  consider 
them  doad  in  law,  and  marry  again  forthwith."  On  learning  of 
tliese  high-handed  proceoding.s,  the  governor  at  once  embarked  for 
Mexico,     lie  encountered  severe  tempests  in  the  Gulf,  and  was  twice 


[ 


THE   CONUUKST  AN.   UXSTOKV  OK  MEXICO  173 

driven  back,  ami  it  was  not  until  oftr.»  t 

y».,  u,a.  i„  June,  :.2„,  rrLtl""  S'^nl' r"?'^  r^ 

been  irreat  V  iniurPfl  !>,,  ♦!.  ^»pum.     iim  fortune  bad 

Iho  govcrmncnt  tliey  l,a,l  usurped  opposition, 

,,i"z::^t  ^rruiirediir:  't:-'  t-'  "■'  ""■"■™  -^ 

sioner  was  dispatched  from  ShaIm  /'.""''  '^"t'  »  ^^^^"1^,  a  conunis- 
province.     Tli  functi        ."^jTJ  ^'^"  f'^^  "''  ^I- 

another,  who  had  been  aj/oin;:  su^ta  hLTu:  'tr'  "  ,''' 
to  be  attributed  to  the  iisalubritv  of  tl  1  '  ,''"''  '"'^  '' 
encn.ios  of  Cortes  insinuated  tnn  \''«  '^^'""'te,  and  not,  as  the 

The  person  next  P,  el  ^^L's  ""''"'  '""'""^  ''  '''■ 
solved  to  appear  bcle  tl  e  ctur  l^V  '^""°^"'^?'.  *''^^  ^^  -• 

s...stain  his  waning  interests  Wif  ^  '  ^"''""''  "''^••«"^«'  ^'^ 
jewels,  and  rnanyLtu  a  curiosilil  pT'  '"''""'^'  '"  ^'"''^  '-^'"i 
l-e  arrived  at  th Jlittle  sea  p^^^^^^^  1^28, 

years  before,  had  witnessed  the  m.n.o^  n  .  '"'"'  ^^'''^'  ^''''-^-^-'^''-^ 
Here,  at  the  convent  of  La  11^*^  Tf""  ''  ^°'""'^"-^- 
di-uverer,  l,e  fell  in  with  iwf^^^^^^^^^^  ^^^'^^  ^'  ^^-^  ^--t 

viding  means  for  the  Conquest  of  I^r^,'  ^'"  ''"'^'^''^  '"  l"'- 
he  furthered  by  liberal  .dvnnl       Z\      '^  ''^""'^  ^^''''''  '^  ^^  ^--^''d, 

-t  faithful,  iriiii::  1  a  ;nt:d  'v'r  ''i  ';"''^^"^'  ^'^ 

o^crsb,  whom  his  a^ieven;:::^^^!^^^^^      '^"^   ^^ 
Ihe  journey  of  Cortes  to  the  court  nt  .p^  ,    "^^^• 

t""-l'i..  and  the  most  honouraUe Td  cl  st  n        ,  T  '  '""'""^'^ 
nccorde.!  to  him.     lie  wis  ere  f  ,^  ■  M  '^"^  "^^"'^''^^'i  ^«^^Ption  was 

ilumlies  o[  Spain.  '  ^!^    u:^;^:' Z""  ^^  ''  '''  -^''- 
ousy,  stimulated  by  the  slanders  oTl;.  5  '  '^'' '"^P'^^^U^^'^^l- 

to  allow  of  full  justice  to  ^deserL     111^7'  'T'^  '''  ''^^'^ 
he  was  allowed  to  retain   but  thatif  ""  ""^  captain-gn.eral 

crown,  lest  such  an  accumuktion    °^^"".^!'"«^  '^-^^  ^-^-""-I  by  the 
po.'erful  for  a  sul^'oc  '  '    '' f'T'''  '^''''^'^  ''^"^'-  '^^^^  *«« 

-'n-sts  and  disci^ties  r\:::^t;  b!7^?  "  "^^'-  ^^-'^ 

a  n.ind  inspired  with  tl,e  hope  of  frl    1  "  '''  ""^'  "'^'^ 

of  1530,  he  took  his  .lepart,!^  t  M:xi::  "^""^"^^'  "  ''^  ^^^^--"^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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174 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


by  his  late  subjects,  both  Spanish  and  Indian;  but  he  soon  retired 
to  his  city  of  Cuernavaca,  and  there  busied  himself  with  improving 
the  country,  and  fitting  out  expeditions  of  discovery.     By  one  of 
these  the  peninsula  of  California  was  discovered,  and  Cortes  himself 
in  an  arduous  voyage  on  the  coast  of  that  region,  underwent  the 
greatest  dangers  and  hardships.     These  and  other  expeditions,  highly 
conducive  to  geographical  knowledge,  but  unremunerative   in   a 
pecuniary  view,  cost  him  a  great  part  of  his  fortune,  none  of  which 
was  ever  made  good  to  him  by  the  goveiiiment.     To  obtain  compen- 
sation and  to  support  his  rights,  in  1540,  he  once  more  betook  him- 
self  to  the  Spanish  court.     He  was  received  with  empty  honours  but 
prospered  little  in  his  suit,  and  the  following  year,  to  his  great  per- 
sonal loss  and  misfortune,  was  engaged  in  the  disastrous  expedition 
against  Algiers,  undertaken  by  Charles  V.     Several  years  longer  he 
haunted  the  court,  vainly  seeking  the  satisfaction  of  his  claims  and 
the  acknowledgment  of  his  services.     He  besought  the  emperor  to 
order  his  council  to  come  to  some  decision,  seeing  that  (in  the  words 
of  his  memorial)  "he  was  too  old  to  wander  about  like  a  vagrant 
but  ought  rather,  during  the  brief  remainder  of  his  life,  to  stay  at 
home  and  settle  his  account  with  Heaven,  occupied  with  the  concerns 
of  his  soul,  rather  than  with  his  substance."    Meeting  little  encour- 
agement, he  prepared  to  return  to  his  estate  in  Mexico;  but,  on  the 
way,  was  seized  with  a  mortal  illness  at  Seville,  where,  having  re- 
ceived the  comforts  of  the  church,  he  expired,  with  much  tranquil- 
lity,  on  the  2d  of  December,  1547.     He  was  in  his  sixty-third  year 
His  remains  were  transported  to  the  citv  of  Mexico,  where  they  lon<^ 
reposed  in  the  vault  of  a  certain  chapel;  but  in  1823,  it  was  found 
necessary  secretly  to  remove  them,  for  security  against  the  fury  of 
the  revolutionists. 

Thus  died,  as  usunl,  amid  neglect  and  ingratitude,  another  ilhis- 
trions  servant  of  the  Spanish  crown.  Whatever  were  his  fault,  the 
Conqueror  of  Mexico  had  been  only  too  faithful  to  the  selfish  'and 
miftvliug  monarch,  who,  like  his  predecessor,  looked  with  jealous 
distrust  on  any  man  who  hnd  dared  "to  deserve  too  much  '"'  Not 
onlv  In-  feats  of  unprecedented  daring,  stratogv  and  perseverance 
had  lie  overcome  numerous  and  hostile  nations,  and  brou-ht  them 
in  Mil.jecf.on  to  the  imperial  sway,  but  by  his  extraordinarv  policy 
and  talents  for  government  he  had  united  both  victors  and  vanquished 
in  one  powerful  state,  submissive  to  its  rulers,  and  yieldin-  splendid 
revenues  both  to  the  nation  and  the  crown.    Hi.,  character,  continuil'y 


T..K  CONQUEST  AND  HlSTOBV    OF  MEXICO.  ^S 

exlMbiting  anlitheses  the  strangest  and  most  diffleult  to  reconcile  is 
Cot"el  '^^ITty  *'  "'**"  "'  "^  '-  «-t  ATcrica: 

nnnin,  conneoust'l'S  t\tX^„~;?V:S 
Stern;  kx  in  his  not bns  of  monlitv  ^r^t  /'v,f*  "^  .  inexorably 

T.e  great  feature  in  Kis  cL^rrL^tttror;:  ^ a^'^ 
staney  not  to  be  dannted  by  danger,  nor  baffled  by  Zpri'ntJn"" 
nor  iveaned  out  by  impedimenta  or  delays  "  "■='>PP<""nient, 

a  speedy  deXi^"a  wf  ?°?""''  *'  "'""^  ^''^  f'-l  -*cr 
0  r  a?d  De  T.L  ''""."'"'/'™"™-    While  some,  like  Sandoval, 

By  far  th;  greater  porU  „  ZljZZsTiZ-  ''7°'''°"""- 
.e.  with  untimely  deaths,  in  war,  ofoHhl^lVS  acTTrt 

59:^.:^f:^r^ip--— -£S 

»hoIc  armament,)  "I  tell  you  that  their  tombs  JreHmalst 
camnba  Indians,  who  devoured  their  limbs,  and  of  tyge  !  Soents 
and  b,rds  of  prey,  which  feasted  on  their  mangled'^bo5'es%"h 
were  thc.r  sepulchres,  and  such  their  monumcftsi  Bu  .„  met 
pj^ar,  that  the  names  of  those  ought  to  be  written!  1 1"  'of 
5*1,  who  d,ed  so  cruel  a  death,  for  the  service  of  oid  t  d  tt 
.Majesty,  to  give  light  to  those  who  sat  in  /l.,^!-.  , 

aoeurately,  than  by  the  unconscious  n.^et/:f '  I    ^±!;::l  -- 


176 


THE  PEOl'LE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


CHAPTEH  I?nL 

CONBITION   OF   THE   INDIANS,   AND   OP   THE  SPANISH   COLONISTS. 
—  NATIONAL   PRIDE. — SYSTEM   OF   GOYERNMENT. — DEPREDA- 
TIONS OF  THE   BUCANIERS. — PUBLIC  WORKS  FOR  THE  PRO- 
TECTION  OF   THE   CAPITAL. — INDIAN   REVOLTS. — VERA 
CRUZ  SEIZED   1)Y   AGRAMONT.  —  JESUITS   EXPELLED, 


The  condition  of  ifexico  under  the  sway  of  the  Spanish  viceroys 
was  hopeless  in  the  extreme.  The  aboriginal  population,  siibjected 
to  every  oppression  by  the  cruel  and  avaricious  masters  of  the  soil, 
diminished  in  number  year  by  year,  and  gradually  lost  nearly  every 
trace  of  the  spirit  and  energy  which  characterized  the  subjects  of 
the  ^fontezumas.  Their  attempts  to  shake  off  the  servitude  imposed 
upon  them  by  the  Spaniards  were  promptly  crushed,  and,  in  most 
instances,  were  followed  by  bloody  massacres  and  aggravated  im- 
positions. 

The  established  European  inhabitants,  and  the  mixed  race  sprung 
from  their  union  with  the  native  women,  were  constantly  compelled 
to  feel  their  entire  subservience  to  the  monarch  of  the  parent-coun- 
try. Foreign  viceroys  and  minor  officials  held  the  supreme  control 
over  all  public  affairs,  and  hordes  of  bigoted  priests  lent  their  pow- 
erful influence  to  keep  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  inhabitants 
from  independent  thoughts  and  plans.  Apathy  and  a  total  want  of 
enterprise  thus  became  characteristic  of  the  nation,  and  still  appear 
in  the  weakness  and  uncertainty  of  its  government,  and  its  steady 
decline  in  prosperity  and  political  importance.  The  extent  and 
severity  of  the  restrictions  imposed  by  royal  decrees,  upon  education 
commerce,  agriculture,  and  manufactures,  in  the  province  of  Mexico, 
almost  exceed  belief.  Whatever  industrial  enterprise  appeared  likely 
to  interfere  with  the  monopolies  of  the  Spanish  producers  in  the  old 
world  was  promptly  interdicted.  Every  thing  which  Spain  could 
furnish  must  be  imported,  in  order  to  insure  a  diligent  working  of 
the  mines,  and  a  steady  supply  of  gold  and  silver  in  exchange  for 
European  commodities. 

In  the  midst  of  these  oppressions  and  exactions,  pride  and  super- 
stition still  combined  to  impress  all  classes,  of  Spanish  descent,  with 


THE   CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY   OF  MEXICO.  I77 

a  reverence  for  the  parent-country,  which  took  the  place  of  a  natural 
patriotic  love  of  their  own  birth-place.  "The  only  object,"  says  a 
writer  in  the  Quarterly  Review,  "to  which  they  looked 'up  with 
respect,  was  Spain  and  its  monarch.  The  only  subject  of  pride 
which  they  dwelt  upon  with  complacency  was  that  they  were 
Spaniards.  They  believed  (for  it  had  been  artfully  and  sedulously 
impressed  on  their  minds)  that  the  king  of  Spain  was  the  chief 
monarch  of  the  universe,  in  whose  dominions  the  sun  never  set 
and  that  France,  Italy,  and  the  other  countries  of  Europe,  were 
tributaries  to  the  nation  of  which  they  formed  a  part.  The  lowest 
of  the  Creoles,  if  but  a  tenth-part  of  the  blood  that  circulated  in 
their  veins  was  of  Spanish  origin,  would  exclaim,  Somos  Espanioles, 
with  a  tone  and  emphasis  that  bespoke  a  sense  of  the  dignity  which 
they  imagined  to  be  derived  from  that  nation." 

The  supreme  authority  of  government  was  vested  in  a  viceroy, 
almost  universally  sent  out  from  old  Spain,  whose  acts  were  more 
or  less  under  the  supervision  of  the  Council  of  Audience.  The 
members  of  this  body  were  also  Spaniards,  and  in  ;,i  matters  they 
appear  to  have  acted  solely  for  the  advantage  oi  the  patrons  to 
whom  they  owed  their  offices,  regardless  of  the  welfare  of  the 
unfortunate  country  over  which  they  were  established.  The  utmost 
venality  and  corruption  prevailed  i-  the  procurement  and  retention 
of  every  valuable  office  in  the  gift  of  the  crown. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  viceroyalty,  some  efforts  were  made  to 
relieve  the  miserable  aborigines  from  the  intolerable  oppression  and 
cruelties  under  which  they  were  wasting  away;  but  the  powerful 
influence  of  the  landed  proprietors,  whose  wealth  consisted  chiefly 
in  tlieir  slaves,  rendered  the  provisions  for  this  purpose  nearly 
nugatory.  Being  themselves  subjected  to  the  control  of  tyrannical 
officials,  in  whose  appointment  they  had  no  voice  or  influence,  the 
white  inhabitants  of  Mexico  were  the  more  tenacious  of  their  irre- 
sponsible claims  to  the  servitude  of  the  conquered  Mexicans. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century,  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  Don  Pedro  de  Contreras,  sixth  viceroy  of  Mexico,  and 
the  first  who  held  office  as  a  servant  of  the  holy  inquisition  in  ihat 
country,  stringent  examination  was  made  into  the  conduct  of  the 
corrupt  officers  of  government,  and  severe  measures  werfi  resorted 
to  in  punishment  of  their  iniquitous  courses.  At  this  period  also 
the  power  of  the  church  was  further  strengthened  by  the  operations 
ofthe  indefatigable  Jesuits,  who,  with  their  usual  zeal  and  ehertrv 
Vol.  III.— 12  ""°"' 


178 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


in  behalf  of  their  faith,  commenced  a  regular  system  of  instructing 
the  Indian  population. 

Under  the  government  of  Don  Pedro's  successor,  Mexico  suffered 
severely  from  the  depredations  of  the  bucaniers,  who  ravaged  por- 
tions of  the  western  coast  and  plundered  the  rich  galeons  freighted 
with  precious  metal,  or  with  cargoes  of  rare  goods  from  the  East 
bound  for  Mexican  ports.     The  names  of  Drake  and  Cavendish' 
among  others,  were  a  terror  to  the  defenceless  population,  who,  from 
the  restrictions  against  bearing  arms  imposed  by  the  government, 
were  prevented  from  opposing  any  effectual  resistance.     A  galeon 
laden  with  commodities  from  the  Philippine  islands,  and  destined 
for  the  port  of  Acapulco,  was  captured  by  Drake  near  the  entrance 
of  the  gulf  of  California,  and,  after  being  plundered,  was  set  on  fire 
and  abandoned.     This  loss  was  heavily  felt,  as  the  restrictive  policy 
of  Spain  precluded  any  commerce  with  the  East  Indies,  further  than 
the  cargo  of  a  single  vessel  in  the  course  of  a  year.    Such  tyrannical 
ordinances  necessarily  induced  an  extensive  system  of  smugglintr 
which  was  conducted,  especially  in  later  times,  with  extraordinary 
boldness,  by  armed  vessels  from  different  European  countries.    These 
illicit  traders  were  often  sufficiently  strong  to  cope  successfully  with 
the  Spanish  gtiarda  castas,  whose  employment  was  the  protection  of 
the  revenue  and  the  exclusion  of  forbidden  traffic. 

The  year  1607  was  memorable  for  the  commencement  of  the 
gigantic  works  by  which  the  city  of  Mexico  has  been  secured  against 
the  disastrous  inundations  to  which  it  was  formerly  liable.     Enrique 
Martinez,  a  distinguished  engineer,  was  commissioned  for  the  under- 
taking by  the  viceroy,  Don  Louis  Velasco.    The  waters  of  the  upper 
lakes,  Zumpango  and  San  Christoval,  had  been  with  partial  success 
excluded  by  dikes  from  overflowing  the  city,  when  swollen  by  the 
rise  of  their  tributary  streams.     It  was  proposed  to  carry  off  the 
excess  of  water  by  a  canal  through  the  lower  portion  of  the  elevated 
or  mountainous  region  which  hems  in  the  Valley  of  Mexico.    Some 
fifteen  thousand  Indians  were  compelled  to  enter  upon  the  labours 
of  this  stupendous,  undertaking,  and  the  main  obstacle,  the  hill  of 
Nochistongo,  Avas  tunnelled  in  less  than  a  year.     The  canal  was 
finished,  and  might  have  fully  answered  its  purpose  but  for  tlie 
imperfect  construction  of  the  subterraneous  works.     Beeomin"-  re- 
peatedly clogged  and  out  of  re[)air,  it  was  abandoned  for  a  series  of 
years,  and  the  old  dikes  were  rebuilt.     In  1629  ifartinez  was  again 
directed  to  open  the  canal.     While  the  work  was  in  progress,  "this 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  MEXICO.  179 

engineer  caused  the  entrance  of  the  gallery  to  be  closed,  in  order,  as 
he  afterwards  averred,  to  protect  his  unfinished  work's  from  destruc- 
tion by  an  anticipated  rise  of  water.  "In  one  night,"  says  Ward 
"the  whole  town  of  Mexico  was  laid  under  water,  with  the  exception 
of  the  great  square  and  one  of  the  suburbs.  In  all  the  other  streets 
the  water  rose  upwards  of  three  feet;  and  during  five  years,  from 
1629  to  1634,  canoes  formed  the  only  medium  of  communication 
between  them.  The  foundations  of  many  of  the  principal  houses 
were  destroyed;  trade  was  paralyzed;  the  lower  classes  reduced  to 
the  lowest  state  of  misery;  and  orders  were  actually  given  by  the 
court  of  Madrid  to  abandon  the  town,  and  build  a  new  capital  in 
the  elevated  plains  between  Tacuba  and  Tacubaya,  to  which  the 
waters  of  the  lakes,  even  before  the  Conquest,  had  never  been 
known  to  extend." 

At  a  subsequent  period  an  immense  embankment  or  dyke  was 
constructed  between  the  lakes  of  Tezcuco  and  San  Christoval,  and 
the  gallery  of  Nochistongo  was  converted  into  an  open  channel,  by 
removing  an  enormous  amount  of  superincumbent  earth.  To  com- 
plete this  canal,  known  as  the  Desague  of  Iluehuetoca,  and  the  dpm 
wliich  separated  the  two  lakes,  involved  an  immense  expenditure  of 
life  and  suffering.  In  the  words  of  the  writer  above  quoted:  "In 
tlio?e  days  the  sacrifice  of  life,  and  particularly  of  Indian  life,  in 
public  works,  was  not  regarded.  Many  thousands  of  the  nati'ves 
perished  before  the  desague  wps  completed;  and  to  their  loss,  as 
well  as  to  the  hardships  endured  by  the  survivors,  may  be  ascribed 
the  horror  with  which  the  name  of  Huehuetoca  is  pronounced  by 
their  descendants." 

Little  of  general  interest  pertains  to  Mexican  history  from  this 
time  until  the  occurrence  of  the  events  connected  with  the  first  rev- 
olution. The  resources  of  the  country  were  still  constantly  drained 
to  supply  the  demands  of  Spain ;  the  bloody  sacrifices  of  the  inquis- 
itorial system  were  enacted  where  in  earlier  times  the  altars  smoked 
^vlth  human  ofierings  to  the  Aztec  divinities;  and  tyranny  and  mis- 
rule only  became  the  more  open  and  the  more  insuflerable.  Until 
the  year  1670,  the  warlike  Tarahumaras  made  a  stand  against  the 
Spaniards,  waging  a  desultory  but  vexatious  war  with  the  white 
settlers.  They  were  at  last  surprised  and  defeated  through  the 
treachery  of  one  of  their  own  people.  Ten  years  later  a  more  seri- 
ous revolt  occurred  among  the  Indians  of  New  Mexico.  With  the 
aid  of  the  rude  monntain  tribes,  they  overran  the  country,  destroying 


180 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OK  HISTORY. 


the  unprotected  and  scattered  plantations  and  settlements  of  the 
colonists,  and  reduced  Santa  Fe  by  siege.  The  garrison  and  inhab- 
itants made  their  escape  by  night,  but  the  place  was  plundered  and 
completely  destroyed.  An  expedition,  sent  out  in  the  following  year 
by  the  Marquis  de  Laguna,  then  viceroy,  found  no  enemies  to 
encounter,  as  the  Indians  had  retired  to  their  own  quarters  in  the 
wilderness.  The  only  means  which  proved  effectual  in  regaining 
possession  of  the  country  was  the  establishment  of  numerous  garri- 
sons at  various  military  posts  provided  for  the  protection  of  the 
inhabitants.  A  force  was  thus  constantly  in  readiness  to  meet  and 
ward  off  an  unexpected  attack. 

Towards  the  close  of  Laguna's  viceroyalty  Mexico  suffered  unu- 
sual loss  by  the  seizure  of  the  richly  freighted  galeons  laden  with 
treasure  for  the  old  world,  by  English  and  French  privateers.  These 
lawless  and  audacious  rovers  did  not  confine  their  operations  to  the 
plundering  of  vessels  at  sea,  but  kept  the  towns  upon  the  coast  in 
contmual  terror.  In  May,  1683,  Vera  Cruz  was  seized  upon  by 
Nicholas  Agramont  and  his  companions,  who  enriched  themselves 
with  an  enormous  booty. 

One  of  the  most  important  events  which  occurred  in  Mexico  during 
the  eighteenth  century  was  the  expulsion  ofthe  Jesuits  by  order  of 
Charles  III.     This  zealous  and  powerful  body  of  ecclesiastics  was 
highly  popular  in  New  Spain,  where  its  teachera  had  so  loner  been 
engaged  in  extending  civilization  to  the  natives,  and  in  the  exercise 
of  their  professional  duties  among  the  whites.     Whatever  may  have 
been  th«  evils  and  dangers  attendant  upon  such  an  extensive  com- 
bination of  enthusiastic  devotees  to  a  religious  cause,  certain  it  is  that 
the  conduct  of  the  Jesuits  in  America  was  generally  conscientious 
and  benevolent.     The  sympathy  of  the  Mexican  populace  was  in 
vam  extended  towards  the  proscribed  order,  and  under  the  vicerov- 
alty  of  the  Marques  de  Croix,  the  colleges  of  the  Jesuits  were  seized 
upon  by  the  government,  and  their  inmates  shipped  to  the  old  world 
only  to  be  superseded  by  a  more  mercenary,  intolerant,  and  selfish 
priesthood. 


THE  CONdBESI  AND  HISTOST  OF  MEIICO.  Igl 


CHAPTEEXII. 

• 

COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  FIRST  REVOLUTION.— ITURRIOARAY  — 

HIDALO0.-FIR.ST  OUTBRE  A  K.-INSURO  ENTS  DEFEATED  BY 

CAILEJA.— RAYON  AND  MORELOS.— CONO  RE8S  AT  CIIIL- 

PANZINOO.— DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.-RE- 

VERSE8  OP  THE  PATRIOTS.— ITURBIDE. 

The  overthrovv  Of  the  Spanish  monarchy  by  Napoleon,  and  the 
estabhshment  of  his  brother  Joseph  upon  the  throne  of  Chirles  IV 
gave  the  oragmal  injpulse  to  that  independent  movement  which 
resulted  m  the  first  Mexican  revolution.     Don  Jose  Iturrigaray  who 
came  out  as  viceroy  in  1803.  distracted  by  contradictory  order^  from 
the  dfterent  claimants  of  authority  in  Spain,  attempted  to  secur^ 
himself  by  sharing  the  responsibility  of  making  choice  with  a  body 
of  he  principal  inhabitants,  whom  he  proposed  to  assemble  as  an  extra 
or  inary  cmnicil.     This  convention  was  to  be  composed  partly  of 
native  inhabitants;  and  the  powerful  party  of  Spanish-born  immt 
grants  immeduitely  took  the  alarm,  and  endeavoured  to  check  by 
violence  their  first  demonstration  of  independent  action.     They  seized 
upon  the  person  of  the  viceroy,  and  sent  him,  a  prisoner,  to  Spa  n 

The  Creole  population  of  Mexico  had  by  this  time  begun  to  per- 
ceive that  Spain  was  no  longer  invincible;  that,  instead  of  being  as 
hey  had  ever  been  taught,  the  mightiest  kingdom  of  the  earth.^Lhe 
was  f  s  sinking  to  insignificance;  and,  for  the  first  time,  they  b  gan 
to  indulge  hopes  of  freedom.  It  is  to  be  observed,  hiwever  that 
uponthe  deposition  of  Ferdinand  VII.,  the  Spania  ds  in  Me^'o 

0  he  actual  government,  generally  favoured  the  cause  of  Joseph 
ml  acquiesced  m  the  authority  of  his  ministers;  while  the  Creoles 

retained  their  loyalty  to  the  legitimate  mona^h,  and  forwrrded 

he.ont  m  Old  Spam.  Between  the  two  races,  the  natives  and  the 
Spanish  immigrants,  old  feelings  of  jealousy  and  enmity  now  became 
grea  ly  embittered  by  political  differences,  and  in  ISlo'a  Z.j^Zy 

1  r  tTo/r^f  "  "^""'^  '°^  ^'"  P^^^P^^^  °^  overthrowing  he 
autliority  of  their  foreign  tyrants. 


182 


THE  I'EOPLE'S   HOOK   OP  H18T0BY. 


A  premature  development  of  the  plot  only  hastened  the  upriaincr 
The  secret  of  the  contemplated  outbreak  having  been  communicated 
to  the  government  by  a  priest,  who  had  learned  the  particulars  hy 
the  confession  of  a  dying  man,  the  (viceroy  immediately  took  mea- 
sures to  secure  the  principal  persons  concerned  in  the  rebellion  The 
most  noted  of  these  was  one  Miguel  Hidalgo  y  Costilla,  an  ecclesius- 
tic,  residing  near  the  town  of  San  Miguel  el  Grande  in  Guanajuanto 
llidalgo  received  intimation  of  his  danger  in  time  to  avoid  arrest 
and,  with  the  aid  of  Ignacio  Allende,  a  military  commandant  at  San 
Miguel,  instantly  put  himself  at  the  head  of  a  motlev  force  of  Indians 
and  Creoles,  and  openly  marched  into  the  neighbouring  town,  and 
proclaimed  his  revolutionary  purpose. 

A  civil  war  ensued,  which,  for  the  ferocity  and  cruelty  exhibited 
by  both  parties,  has  seldom  been  surpassed  in  the  history  of  the 
world.     The  Spaniards  were  the  first  objects  of  attack  bv  the  insur- 
gents;  but  so  large  a  portion  of  these  were  of  aboriginal  descent 
and  so  reckless  and  unsparing  was  the  conduct  of  the  revolted  faction' 
that  the  Creole  population,  to  no  small  extent,  united  in  opposin-r 
their  progress.     The  city  of  Guanajuanto  first  fell  before  the  rebellious 
army,  and,  after  a  terrible  scene  of  slaughter,  was  delivered  over  to  be 
plundered.     The  followers  of  Hidalgo  already  amounted,  it  is  said  to 
twenty  thousand  men.    At  Las  Cruces,  the  army  of  the  government 
under  Truxillo,  was  completely  routed,  and  nothing  but  an  over- 
estimate of  Its  defences  Appears  to  have  prevented  Hidalrro  from 
seizing  upon  the  city  of  Mexico. 

After  having  encamped  for  a  few  days  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cani- 
tal,  he  drew  off  his  forces,  leaving  leisure  and  opportunity  to  the 
viceroy  for  the  collection  and  equii)ment  of  a  formidable  army     The 
royal  troops,  under  command  of  the  notorious  Calleja,  were  soon  in 
pursuit  of  the  insurgents.     A  pitched  battle  took  place  at  Aculco 
in  which  the  artillery  and  discipline  of  the  Sj^aniards  more  than 
compensated  for  their  inferiority  in  numbers.     The  Indians  fou-^Lt 
with  their  usual  desperate  courage,  but  after  immense  loss  w°ere 
compelled  to  retreat.     Pushing  on  to  Guanajuanto,  Calleja  wreaked 
his  vengeance  upon  those  among  the  inhabitants  who  were  supposed 
o  favour  the  rebellion,  by  a  brutal  massacre  of  men,  women  and 
children.    Thousands  of  these  wretched  victims,  we  are  told,  were  led 
into  the  public  square,  and  put  to  death  by  cutting  their  throats.    Hi- 
dalgo s  pnrty  retaliated  by  the  commission  of  similar  atrocities  when- 
ever  Spaniards  or  those  of  pure  Spanish  descent  fell  into  their  hands 


I 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTOKY   OF   MEXICO. 


183 


In  January,  1811,  another  battle  was  fought,  at  the  bridge  of 
Ciilderon,  near  Guanajuanto,  in  wliich  the  insurgents  were  utterly 
defeated,  and  their  leaders  with  the  remnant  of  their  forces  retreated 
to  Saltillo.  Two  months  later,  while  preparing  to  visit  tho  United 
States  for  the  i)urpose  of  purchasing  arms  and  ammunition  for  a 
future  attempt,  llidalgo  and  his  principal  associates  were  betrayed 
by  one  of  their  own  number  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards.  The 
rebel  chief  had  little  mercy  to  expect  from  his  captors:  he  was  shot 
in  the  month  of  July  following. 

After  the  death  of  llidalgo,  most  prominent  among  the  revolu- 
tionists appeared  Rayon,  one  of  his  companions  in  arms,  and  the 
distinguislied  Morelos,  also  an  ecclesiastic.     A  year  passed  away  in 
disturbance  and  uncertainty,  but  without  any  very  important  mili- 
tary operations.     There  was  no  longer  a  powerful  and  concentrated 
body  of  armed  rebels  to  excite  the  terror  of  the  friends  of  the  gov- 
ernment, but  the  seditious  and  independent  spirit  awakened  by  what 
had  already  passed,  was  constantly  on  the  increase.     A  junta  was 
formed  at  Zitacuuro,  then  in  possession  of  the  insurgents,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1811,  and  negotiations  were  vainly  opened  with  the  viceroy, 
Venegas,  for  the  purpose  of  a  peaceful  settlement  of  the  government! 
It  was  proposed  to  offer  the  throne  of  Mexico  to  the  disgraced  king 
of  Spain,  and  to  establish  a  government  independent °of  the  old 
country  so  long  as  the  latter  should  remain  subject,  in  effect,  to 
foreign  dominion. 

These  overtures  were  received  with  utter  contempt,  and  with  the 
commencement  of  the  year  1812,  hostilities  were  renewed  on  a 
larger  scale.  After  pushing  his  way  triumphantly  until  within  a 
few  miles  of  the  city  of  Mexico,  Morelos  established  himself  at 
Cuautla  de  Amilpas  in  the  "tierra  caliente,"  to  await  the  expected 
attack  of  the  government  forces,  under  Calleja.  That  energetic 
ollicei-,  after  seizing  upon  Zitacuara,  from  which  the  revolutionary 
council,  or  junta,  escaped  by  a  timely  flight,  and  butchering  a  great 
number  of  its  inhabitants,  marched  against  Morelos,  and  laid  siege 
to  Cuautla.  All  supi)lies  being  cut  oft',  nothing  remained  for  the 
besieged  but  flight,  as  little  was  to  be  hoped  from  a  pitched  battle. 

This  retreat,  which  took  place  at  the  beginning  of  May,  1812, 
proved  but  the  commencement  of  a  series  of  brilliant  successes! 
Morelos  made  his  head-quarters  at  Oaxaca,  and  with  little  difficulty 
extended  his  authority  throughout  the  province.  Acapulco  was  taken 
in  August,  1813.     In  the  month  of  November  following,  a  congress, 


184 


THE    PEOPLE'S    BOOK  OP  HISTORY. 


consisting  of  the   incmbors  of    the   former  junta,   togctlior  with 
deputies  from  the  conquered  or  revolutionized  province  of  Oaxaca 
convened  at  Chilpanzingo,   and  openly  made   declaration   of  thd 
independence  of  Mexico. 

The  bright  prospects  of  the  insurgents  were,  however,  soon  clouded 
Morelos,  having  undertaken  an  expedition  against  Valladolid,  was 
defeated  by  the  government  troops  under  Llano  and  the  celebrated 
Agustindo  Iturbide;  his  bravest  and  most  trust- worthy  associates 
in  the  revolutionary  movement,  Don  Miguel  Bravo,  Galeana,  and 
Matamoros,  perished  in  battle,  or  by  the  hands  of  the  executioner- 
and  the  new  congress,  like  the  junta  at  Zitacuaro,  was  driven  from 
Its  temporary  capital.     Oaxaca  waa  reconquered  by  the  government 
The  brave  and  devoted  Morelos  was  taken  prisoner,  and  shot  about 
the  close  of  the  year  1815. 
'       From  this  period  until  the  espousal  of  the  patriotic  cause  by  Itur- 
bide,  in  February  of  1821,  however  the  revolutionary  spirit  may 
have  spread  among  the  masses  of  the  people,  outward  demonstration 
was  of  little  avail.     The  power  of  the  royalists  was  established 
throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the  country,  and  the  military 
chieftains  who  still  maintained  a  hostile  attitude,  unable  to  unite 
their  forces,  were  content  to  maintain  their  position  as  best  they  mi-ht 
m  the  different  districts  where  they  were  stationed.     In  Ward's 
Mexico,  the  following  summary  is  given  of  the  position  of  the  prin- 
cipal  insurgent   leaders    subsequent    to    tlie    death    of    Morelos- 
"Guerrero  occupied  the  west  coast,  where  he  maintained  himself 
until  the  year  1821,  when  he  joined  Iturbide.     Rayon  commanded 
in  the  vicinity  of  Tlalpujahua,  where  he  successively  maintained 
two  fortified  cami)s  on  the  Cerra  del  Gallo  and  on  Coporo     Teran 
held  the  district  of  Tehuacan  in  Puebla.     Bravo  was  a  wanderer 
tliroughout  the  country.     The  Bajio  was  tyrannized  over  by  the 
ladre  Torres,  while  Guadalupe  Victoria  occupied  the  important 
province  of  Vera  Cruz." 

The  officer  last  mentioned  had  done  good  service  to  the  cau^e  of 
the  patriots  under  Morelos,  and  in  after-times  filled  the  first  office 
of  the  republic.  At  the  dark  period  of  which  we  are  now  speakin- 
he  was  reduced  to  the  last  extremity  by  the  persecution  of  the  royaT 
ists.  Deserted  by  his  re^y  remaining  followers,  and  of  too  incorrupt- 
ible a  spirit  to  be  seduced  from  the  cause  to  which  he  had  devoted 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  seek  safety  by  a  solitary  life  in  the 
wilderness.     He  "departed  for  the  mountains,  where  he  wandered 


ether  with 
of  Oaxaca, 
ion  of  tho 

3n  clouded, 
idol  id,  VVU8 
celebrated 
'  associates 
leaiia,  and 
;ecutioner; 
'iven  from 
ivernmcnt. 
shot  about 

56  by  Itur- 
ipirit  may 
oiistration 
stablished 
5  military 
5  to  unite 
hey  might 
n  Ward's 
the  prin- 
Morelos: 
1  himself 
ininanded 
aintained 
>.    Teran 
wanderer 
r  by  the 
mportant 

cause  of 
rst  ofTicc 
ipeaking, 
he  royal- 
1  corrupt- 
devoted 
e  in  the 
i^andered 


THE   CONQUEST  AND   HISTOKY   OF  MEXICO.  186 

for  thirty  months  living  on  tho  fruits  of  the  forest,  and  gnawing 
the  bonea  of  dead  animals  found  in  their  recesses.  Nor  did  ho 
emerge  from  this  impenetrable  concealment  until  two  faithful  In- 
dian., whom  he  had  known  in  prosperous  days,  sought  him  out 
uMth  great  (bmculty;  and,  communicating  the  joyous  intelligence 
of  tho  revolution  of  1821,  brought  him  back  once  more  to  their 
villages,  where  he  was  received  with  enthu.sia.stio  reverence,  as  a 
piitriot  raised  from  tho  dead."* 

The  most  interesting  events  of  tho  year  1817  are  those  connected 
with  the  gallant  but  unprofitable  career  of  Xavier  Minn,  a  Spanish 
adventurer,  who,  with  a  small  force,  espoused  tho  cause  of  the  Mex- 
ican revolution.  After  various  successes,  he  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  shot  in  the  month  of  November  of  the  same  year 


CHAPTEB  II. 

ESPOUSAL  OP   THE   CAUSE  OP   INDEPENDENCE   BY   ITURDIDE  — 
PllOCLAMATION   AT  lOUALA,— UNION   WITH   THE   REVOLU- 
TIONARY  PARTY.— TREATY   WITH   THE    VICEROY,    AND 

SURRENDER   OF  THE   CAPITAL.  — DISSENSIONS. 

ITURBIDE  MADE   EMPEROR.— Ills  OVERTHROW 

AND   DEATH.  —  POLITICAL   FACTIONS, — 

SPANISH  ATTEMPTS  AT  RECONUUEST. 

Uxpeh  the  viceroy alty  of  Don  Juan  Euiz  de  Apodaca,  the  sixty- 
first  Spanish  governor  of  .\rexico,  the  prospects  of  the  revolutionists 
wore  so  unfavourable,  that  a  convenient  opportunity  aiiiiearcd  to 
be  presented  for  the  restoration  of  the  ancient  system  ')f  absolute 
tyranny.  Certain  franchises  and  a  partial  representation  had  been 
secured  to  the  people  by  the  provisions  of  the  constitution  promul- 
gated  by  the  Spanish  Cortes  in  1812:  in  endeavourin-  to  annul 
tliese  privilege..,  and  to  ri5establish  the  irresponsible  and\i„ehoc-ked 
power  of  royalty,  Apodaca  only  hastened  the  final  overthrow  of 
Spaiii.sh  rule  in  Mexico. 

Agustin  de  Iturbidc,  as  being  a  gallant  and  efficient  soldier,  and 
tlioroughly  fovourable  to  the  royal  cause,  was  selected  to  assume 

«  Mexico,  A/tw,  Siw,,ish,  nnd  Republican,  by  Enintz  Mayer. 


186 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


the  command  of  the  western  provinces,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
proclaim  the  king's  absolute  authority,  and  to  put  an  end  to  the 
constitutional  system.  The  views  of  Iturbide  had,  however,  under- 
gone a  great  change  since  his  successful  campaign  against  the  patri- 
ots; and  he  only  accepted  the  high  office  conferred  upon  hin^  the 
more  efficiently  to  carry  out  his  own  secret  purposes.  These  were 
first  made  known  by  his  celebrated  proclamation,  issued  at  the  town 
of  Iguala,  where  he  was  encamped  in  the  month  of  February,  1821 
on  his  march  westward.  The  "plan  of  Iguala,"  as  this  manifesto 
was  termed,  contained,  among  other  provisions,  the  following  bold 
and  comprehensive  declaration,  as  given  by  Mr.  Mayer  in  his  history 
of  Mexico: 

"Article  I. — Tlie  Mexican  nation  is  independent  of  the  Spanish  nation,  and  of 

every  other,  even  on  its  own  continent. 
"Art.  II,— Its  religion  shall  be  the  Catholic,  which  all  its  inhabitants  profess. 
"Art.  III.— They  shall  all  be  united,  without  any  distinction  between  Americans 

and  Europeans. 
"Art.  IV. — The  government  shall  be  a  constitutional  monarchy." 

A  junta  was  to  be  formed,  under  the  presidency  of  the  existino' 
viceroy,  by  which  a  congress  should  be  convoked;  Ferdinand  VII., 
or,  in  deflxult  of  his  acceptance,  one  of  his  brothers,  was  to  be  invited 
to  the  throne ;  public  officers  of  every  grade,  who  should  profess 
themselves  in  favour  of  independence,  were  to  be  continued  in  office 
while  banishment,  "without  taking  with  them  their  families  and 
effects,"  awaited  npn-conformist  officials;  and  in  support  of  these 
principles  an  army  was  to  be  formed,  to  be  called  "the  Army  of  the 
Three  Guaranties,"  viz:  "Independence,  the  maintenance  of  Roman 
Catholicity,  and  Union." 

Iturbide's  little  army  of  eight  hundred  men  readily  embarked  in 
his  enterprise,  and,  marching  to  the  western  coast,  he  effijcted  a 
union  with  Guerrero  and  his  insurgent  forces.  The  revolutionists 
throughout  Mexico,  with  singular  unanimity,  espoused  the  cause  of 
the  new  popular  leader,  eager  to  secure  independence  of  Spain  upon 
any  terms,  and  hopeless  of  carrying  out  their  designs  for  individual 
liberty  in  the  then  present  posture  of  affiiirs.  Apodaca  exhibited 
no  energy  or  determination  in  a  crisis  which  called  for  vigorous 
acti'on,  and  the  Spanish  portion  of  the  population  of  the  capital 
seized  ujwn  him,  and  threw  him  into  confinement,  as  being  unfit  for 
his  responsible  office. 

Ilis  successor,  Juan  O'Donoju,  found  the  great  mass  of  the  people 


ation,  and  of 


THE  CONQUEST  ANBHISTOKY  OF  MEXICO.  jgy 

eager  in  support  of  Iturbicle     Tint  onnn^o  f  i 

tions  to  th/Lro,  for  a  ^^^^^^f^^^r^^^f 

treaty;  and  a.  nothing  remained  subject  to  Spanish  doln'  ^ 
tl,e  city  of  Mexico  and  the  strong  fortress  SnTiTT;  """''^^ 
offers  were  accepted.     The  caoital  ZT  i     '^"''"  ^^  ^"°^'  ^''' 

September  (182?),  and  a  t::;'or^y^^^^^^^  of 

proceeded  to  enter  upon  the  duties  ogovlnlj^^^^^^^^  ^^  '^^'' 
met  on  the  24th  of  the  ensuing  February  '°''°'''' 

This  body,  composed  as  it  was  of  conflipfincr  «i 
into  great  disorder.     The  renuhlin!!    ''°"'°*  "«  elements,  soon  fell 

archie' 1  provisions  of^e  ne'~  "2  "'f  "'•  ''  *^^  ^"^"■ 
no  less  opposed  to  any  innovation   ?'l  •        """"''''''^'^onalists  were 

away  by  enthusiasm  for  thrie 2'  led  a't  TT'  T^'  ''"''' 
elevation  to  the  supreme  authority  The  ll  ^?  ^'^^  '^'''  ^"^ 
prevailed,  and  by  an  irre^^ular  anTvlnl  .  .  '  ^"'^'^'^  ultimately 
Lrbide  ;mperor  of  Sexico  demonstration  proclaimed 

his  favour,  -  being  the^j;;r;C':::'eSy^^^^^^^^^^^  T 

ence  of  the  nation,  that,  with  wise  and  in      •  '  ^"depend- 

might  perhaps  have  gained  ove^^  1  '  enem  rye""""rl'  '' 
ever,  to  be  unfitted  for  power  TT^iZTl  \  .  P'°''''^'  ^'°^^- 
decisions  of  the  congress    L^'n  n  f  f  ^''''^^^  ^^'^'  ^he 

to  the  throne,  dissolved  that  bod  v  ^T,!^°'?^^^  '^'^  1"«  recession 
own  nomination.  ^''^^'  ^'^bst^tutmg  an  assembly  of  his 

The  Mexican  people  were  ill-preDarPfl  h.r  o  ^  ,  ■ 

to  submit  to  a  mere  change  of  tyrlnt  '0!^^'''''^'^  ''"'^'^^'°"' 
and  soon  ripened  into  open  revo  Gp.  1  n  "  "^"''^  ''^'"^^y^ 
Santa  Anna,  who  was  go™  f  Ver  P  '"tj  '"^  *'^  ^°^^''' 
officials  headed  the  insurrection      Til  "'  ""^  ""'^'^  "^^^We 

-b,  and  in  March,  lS2S:i;^.2^:Z:: ::^^-'  ''  -'' 
m  a  vessel  provided  by  the  members  of  tl    ?  ^  ''""''^'•>' 

he  had  convened  for  the  pur^re  of .  /  T''  '""°^^^^'  ^^^^^m 
leaders  of  the  new  re.llufio  f  tooL  1  "  "°  ^  '  ''"^"''''"-  ^^'^^^ 
a^-^  Pr-:^ed  to  U^^^l^^::  ^^  ^'^  ^^^^  of  Mexico, 

on  th:r 'o^srid  r  ks  t^s  :r^^"  ^'^^  -^^^^^ 

quickly  reassembled,  as  a  triumvir  r*      ^  '°"STCss,  which 

po'.e..  until  the  ««;  coL    ss  \^  In"  ^'T  ^'^^"^""  ^'^^^"^^^^ 
In  October  IS'^i  thiTl     l^r     „  ''^  "^  ^^^^  following  Au-^ust 

^     ^er,  lS.i,  thzs  body  hnally  sanctioned  the  federal  constiturion; 


188 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTOEY. 


which,  after  various   revolutions,   overthrows,    and  reforms,   was 
readopted  in  the  year  1847." 

The  unwise  and  unfortunate  emperor  returned  to  Mexico  in  July 
1824,  in  disguise,  probably  in  the  hope  of  restoring  his  fallen  fortunes! 
He  was  recognized,  taken  prisoner,  and  delivered  over  by  General 
Garza  to  the  authorities  of  the  province  of  Tamaulipas.  In  conformity 
with  a  decree  previously  passed  by  the  general  congress,  the  provin- 
cial legislative  body  at  once  condemned  the  returned  exile  to  death 
and  he  was  accordingly  shot  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month. 

Upon  the  convention  of  the  Mexican  congress  in  1825,  the  patri- 
otic  Guadalupe  Victoria  received  the  appropriate  reward  for  his  suf. 
ferings  and  self-devotion  in  the  cause  of  freedom,  by  being  declared 
president  of  the  republic.  At  this  period  the  party  in  favour  of  a 
free  federal  government  was  completely  in  the  ascendancy;  various 
seditious  attempts  to  overturn  the  constitution  of  the  previous  year 
had  been  promptly  and  forcibly  suppressed;  and  so  completely  had 
the  power  and  influence  of  the  old  Spaniards  declined,  that  they  were 
mostly  removed  from  office,  and  their  places  were  supplied  by  native- 
born  inhabitants.  The  last  hold  of  Spain  upon  her  immense  North 
American  provinces  was  by  her  retention  of  the  strong  fortress  of 
San  Juan  de  UUoa. 

Opposed  to  the  existing.constitution,  and  anxious  to  secure  a  form 
of  government  less  dependent  upon  the  will  of  the  masses,  was  a 
strong  minority,  consisting  mainly  of  landed  proprietors,  those  con- 
nected with  the  church,  and  others  intimately  associated  with  the 
interests  of  these  powerful  portions  of  the  community.  The  move- 
ments of  this  opposition  were  centralized  by  the  establishment  of  a 
secret  society,  of  Masonic  formation,  denominated  the  Escocesses. 
A  formidable  insurrection,  headed  by  Nicolas  Bravo,  who  had  es- 
poused this  side  of  the  question,  was  quelled  by  the  instrumentality 
of  Guerrero,  without  an  engagement,  although  the  insurgents  had 
gathered  in  great  force,  with  the  apparent  determination  to  make  a 
desperate  ciiort  for  the  overthrow  of  the  federal  government.  '     ' 

Goinez  Pedraza,  the  successor  to  Victoria  in  the  presidential  chair, 
was,  notwithstanding,  a  member  of  this  obnoxious  party.  At  this 
iuncture  it  was  confidently  hoped,  in  Spain,  that  these  dissensions  i 
between  different  factions  in  Mexico  had  so  weakened  the  power  of  ' 
the  republic  as  to  offer  the  opportunity  for  a  hostile  demonstra-  ' 
tion  upon  the  coast.  Such  efficient  measures  were,  however,  resorted  ' 
to  by  the  rej)ublic,  that  these  attempts  proved  abortive.     The  Me.xi-    ' 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  MEXICO. 


189 


can  fleet,  under  command  of  Commodore  Porter,  of  the  United 
States'  navy,  not  only  proved  sufficient  to  ward  off  the  attack  of  the 
Spanish  vessels,  but  succeeded  in  taking  numerous  valuable  prizes 
from  the  enemy. 

An  army  of  about  four  thousand  men,  under  command  of  Gen- 
eral Barradas,  was  landed  at  Tampico  for  the  purpose  of  marching 
into  the  interior,  and  taking  advantage  of  the  unsettled  state  of 
affairs  at  the  capital,  to  reestablish  the  Spanish  dominion.  This 
force,  much  reduced,  it  is  said,  by  the  sickness  attendant  upon  a 
summer  spent  near  the  Mexican  sea-board,  was  attacked  and  defeated 
in  September  of  1830,  by  the  republican  army  under  General 
Santa  Anna. 

Pedraza,  being  opposed  in  principles  to  the  great  mass  of  the 
community,  was  unable  to  retain  his  position.  He  had  been  elected 
by  a  majority  of  but  two  votes,  and  the  leaders  of  the  popular  party, 
feeling  assured  that  their  course  would  be  sustained  by  the  country,' 
violently  and  unconstitutionally  overturned  his  administration.  The 
chief  of  these  new  revolutionists  were  Generals  Antoiuo  Lopez  de 
Santa  Anna,  Guerrero,  Montezuma,  and  Lobald,  and  Lorenzo  de 
Zavala,  the  grand  master  of  the  masonic  lodge  called  the  Yorkinos, 
and  opposed  to  that  of  the  Escocesses. 

After  a  season  of  sanguinary  tumult,  order  was  restored  in  the 
capital.  With  the  commencement  of  the  year  1829,  congress  again 
assembled,  and  formally  installed  Guerrero,  Pedraza's  opposing  can- 
didate, in  the  office  of  president. 


190         THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTOBY. 


CEAPTEH   III. 

OVERTHROW  OF  GUERRERO  BY  SANTA  ANNA  ANDBUSTAMENTE.— 

TYRANNICAL  PROCEEDINGS  DURING  THE  ADMINISTRATION 

OF  SANTA  ANNA.  —  RESISTANCE  IN  THE  PROVINCES  OF  ZAC-' 

ATECAS  AND  TEXAS.  — THE   TEXAN  WAR.  — DEFEAT  OF 

SANTA  ANNA.  —  DIFFICULTIES  WITH  FRANCE.  —  CIVIL 

WAR.  —  SANTA  ANNA  REST0RJ5D  TO  POWER. — REVOLT 

HEADED  BY  PAREDES.  —  HERRERA  PRESIDENT. 

Guerrero  was  not  long  permitted  to  hold  the  reins  of  government. 
So  disturbed  were  the  times,  and  so  unsettled  were  the  minds  of  the 
people,  that  it  was  easy  for  any  subtle  and  politic  intriguer  to  create 
a  popular  commotion,  and  certain  unwarrantable  or  injudicious 
assumptions  of  authority  on  the  part  of  the  president  gave  opportu- 
nity for  the  formation  of  a  new  faction,  whose  object  was  his  destruc- 
tion. At  the  head  of  this  movement  were  Santa  Anna  and  the  vice- 
president,  Bustamente.  Mexico  was  soon  distracted  by  the  renewed 
horrors  of  civil  war.  The  unfortunate  Guerrero,  driven  from  the 
seat  of  government,  defeated  at  all  points,  and  a  fugitive  on  the 
western  sea  coast,  was  finally  seized,  tried  by  a  court  martial  for 
trea.sonably  levying  war  against  the  republic,  and  shot  in  the  month 
of  February,  1831. 

Bustamente  had  assumed  supreme  power  in  the  republic,  but  was 
enabled  to  retain  his  position  no  longer  than  suited  the  views  of  his 
more  celebrated  and  able  associate  Santa  Anna.  This  arch  intriguer 
was  among  the  first  to  excite  an  insurrection  against  the  usur^per, 
and,  although  defeated  in  the  first  engagement,  had  so  far  gained 
tire  favour  of  the  people,  that  he  was  enabled  to  bring  about  his  ends. 
Bu.-tamcnte  was  forced  to  yield,  and  Santa  Anna,  probably  for  the 
pur]K.se  of  gaining  over  the  party  of  the  "Escocesses,"  restored 
IVdraza  to  his  lawful  position  of  president.  The  politic  and  suc- 
cessful general  was  himself  elevated  to  that  ofRce  in  May  of  18-'!3. 

One  year  later,  the  president,  relying  upon  the  adherence  of  the 
army,  and  careless  of  longer  cloaking  his  own  inordinate  ambition 
for  self  aggrandizement  with  an  assumed  spirit  of  repnblicam'sm,  dis- 
solved c.ngress,  and,  nullifying  the  constitution,  attcmjited  to  phiee 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  IIISTOEY   OF  MEXICO. 


191 


the  whole  of  the  Mexican  states  under  the  control  of  a  central  mili- 
tary  despotism.  Every  province  was  speedily  compelled  to  submit, 
with  the  exception  of  Zacatecas  and  Texas.  The  reduction  of  the 
former  was  conducted  with  great  cruelty  and  ferocity.  The  inhab- 
itants,  after  enduring  every  enormity  from  an  unscrupulous  and 
rapacious  soldiery,  were  disarmed,  and  compelled  to  submit  to  the 
rule  of  a  military  governor. 

The  proceedings  in  Texas,  both  at  this  period  and  during  the 
more  important  and  eventful  campaign  of  the  spring  of  1836  will 
be  found  more  fully  detailed  in  our  sketch  of  the  history  of  that 
state.    The  Mexican  army,  under  General  Cos,  overran  the  refrac- 
tory province,  and  without  difficulty  broke  up  the  legislative  assem- 
bly, and  bore  down  for  the  time  all  opposition.    The  so-called  "Plan 
of  Toluca,"  by  which  the  legislative  power  of  the  separate  Mexican 
states  was  annulled,  and  a  central  form  of  government  established 
went  into  operation;  but  the  Texans,  instead  of  yielding  to  their 
flxte,  assumed  an  attitude  of  sterner  and  more  determined  resistance 
A  series  of  brilliant  victories  left  them  free  from  Mexican  usurpation' 
and  the  tyrannical  president,  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  his  enemies' 
saw  his  prospects  of  ambition  blighted,  as  then  appeared,  for  ever 
In  1838  he  had  opportunities  for  retrieving  his  military  reputation' 
upon  the  occasion  of  the  revolt  headed  by  the  unfortunate  Mexia' 
for  the  purpose  of  restoring  the  old  republican  system.  ' 

During  the  following  winter,  the  claims  of  France  to  remuneration 
for  former  injuries  received  by  French  subjects  in  Mexico,  and  in 
respect  to  various  other  unsettled  questions  in  dispute  between  the 
two  nations,  were  enforced  by  a  hostile  demonstration.     The  town 
of  Vera  Cruz  was  blockaded,  and  the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa 
deemed  impregnable  by  its  :Mexican  possessors,  was  taken  after  a 
SIX  hours'  cannonade.     Santa  Anna's  services  on  this  occasion  in 
defending  the  town  from  tlic  forces  landed  by  the  Frencli,  are  spoken 
of  in  terms  of  high  commendation.     The  loss  of  liis  leir,  by  a  small 
cannon-shot,  also  served,  so  far  as  such  a  circumstance ^'nlH.t  afreet 
popular  fe.-ling,  to  secure  him  a  greater  degree  of  symmthy  and 
lavour  from  his  countrymen. 

Bustamente  was  at  tliis  period  president  of  Afexico.  The  success- 
ful revolution  in  Texas,  nnd  insurrections  in  the  eastern  provinces  of 
toMhuila,  laniauhpas,  and  Durango,  and  in  Yucatan,  disturbed  the 
peace  of  the  nation;  while  the  grievous  burden  of  supporting  the 
heavy  expenses  of  the  government  and  the  armv,  aroused  a  -x^.cfil 


192 


THE   PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTOEY. 


discontent.  The  president  became  unpopular,  and  weighty  influences 
were  brought  to  bear  for  his  overthrow.  Santa  Anna,  supported  by 
Paredes,  Valencia,  and  Lombardini,  had  organized  a  powerful  party 
and  again  aspired  to  the  presidency.  The  outbreak  occurred  in  the 
month  of  August,  1841 ;  the  capital  itself  was  the  scene  of  action. 

As  described  by  Mr.  Mayer:  "For  a  whole  month  the  contest  was 
carried  on  with  balls  and  grape-shot  in  the  streets  of  Mexico;  whilst 
the  rebels,  who  held  the  citadel  outside  the  city,  finished  the  shame- 
less drama  by  throwing  a  shower  of  bombs  into  the  metropolis 
shattering  the  houses,  and  involving  innocent  and  guilty,  citizens 
strangers,  combatants  and  non-combatants,  in  a  common  fate.  This 
cowardly  assault,  under  the  orders  of  Valencia,  was  made  solely  with 
a  view  of  forcing  the  citizens,  who  were  unconcerned  in  the  quarrel 
between  the  factions,  into  insisting  upon  the  surrender  of  Mexico,  in 
order  to  save  their  town  and  families  from  destruction." 

An  interview  was  finally  brought  about  between  the  leaders  of 
the  two  parties,  and  the  result  of  their  negotiations  was  the  "  Plan 
of  Tacubaya,"  under  the  provisions  of  which  supreme  power  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  General  Santa  Anna,  until  a  congress  should 
be  chosen,  and  assembled  to  establish  a  new  constitution.  That  any 
really  independent  action  could  be  taken  by  a  convention  of  dele- 
gates under  such  circumstances,  was  scarcely  to  be  expected.  The 
dictator,  perceiving  that  he  could  not  carry  out  his  original  plans 
for  maintaining  a  central  government,  again  dissolved  the  assembly, 
and  assumed  the  entire  control  of  affairs,  through  a  junta  of  his  own 
appointment.  A  constitution  was  formed  by  this  body  in  1843,  of 
a  character  widely  variant  from  that  of  1824,  and  little  calculated  to 
meet  the  approval  or  acceptance  of  the  people. 

In  the  winter  of  1844,  congress  having  been  convened,  a  large 
appropriation  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  a  renewed  attempt  upon 
the  liberties  of  the  victorious  colonists  of  Texas.  Before,  however, 
any  eftectual  measures  were  adopted  for  carrying  out  this  project, 
the  opponents  of  the  president,  under  the  direction  of  General  Pa- 
redes, rose  against  the  existing  government.  A  year  passed  by, 
during  which  the  country  was  distracted  by  a  contest  between  three 
parties;  for  Santa  Anna,  having  violated  a  provision  of  the  new 
constitution,  by  assuming  military  power  without  special  authority 
from  the  congress,  had  created  new  opponents  upon  constitutional 
grounds. 

In  January  of  1845  the  party  of  Paredes  was  successful:  Santa 


influences 
aported  by 
rful  party, 
rred  in  the 
f  action, 
jontest  was 
co;  wliilst 
tlie  sluame- 
netropolis, 
y,  citizens^ 
ate.  This 
solely  with 
he  quarrel 
^Iexico,  in 

leaders  of 
the  "Plan 
)ower  was 
ess  should 

That  any 
n  of  dele- 
ted. The 
inal  plans 
assembly, 
)f  his  own 

1843,  of 
culated  to 

I,  a  large 
npt  upon 
however, 
3  project, 
neral  Pa- 
assed  by, 
een  three 
the  new 
authority 
titutional 

il:  Santa 


Am 
:     the 
j     of  tl 

ancc 


I      ANN] 
!         OP  ] 
TE 


I        Tm 

i     1836  ( 

:     were  fi 

;      union 

I     point  I 

j     and  b} 

March, 

j     success 

I     the  ne^ 

I         Tliis 

j     indignr 

I     from  M 

I     passpor 

ments  v 

governr 

Black,  I 

the  pur] 

Mr.  Joh 

mediateJ 

Gener 

opposed 


THE  C0NQUK8T  AND  HI8Tn«Y  OF  MEXICO.  193 

Anna  wa«  taken  prisoner  while  qndeavouring  to  make  his  escape  to 
the  eastward  and  General  Jos6  Joaquin^  de  Ilerrera,  being  president 
of  the  counc.1,  suceecded  to  the  highest  offiee  of  the  state,  ii  accord 
ance  with  the  provision  of  a  previous  enactment 


CHAPTER  nil.       ^ 

ANNEXATION   OP  TEXAS   TO  THE   UNITED   STATES—INDIGNATION 
OF  MEXICO.-SLIDKLL.S  COMMISSION._rR,r,n,,ioNS  IgaIN 
TEXAS.-OENERAL   TAYLOR'S   MARCH   TO   THE    RIO      ,  AN    . 
-COMMENCE.MENT  OF  HOSTILITIES.-WAR  DECLAR    D- 
PLAN   OP  THE   MEXICAN  CAMPAION.-BATTLE  OP  PALO 
ALTO:    OPRESACADELAPALMA.-MATAMORAS 
OCCUPIED.— RETURN   OF  SANTA   ANNA  TO   MEX- 
ICO.— REDUCTION   OF   MONTEREY 
I 

'     mZ  f  "'^'!r'r  ,°^  •^'^"''  '^'^'''^^'  '^'y  ^^'^^  «^^r  since  the  year 
I     1836  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  u  free  and  independent  government 
!     were  anxious  to  socure  the  political  and  commercial  adv' iil  rof  a 
union  with  the  United  States.     Their  independence  of  M  lo    ," 
point  0    fact,  had  long  since  been  recognized  by  the  United  St^e 

March  1840,  the  negotiations  for  annexation  were  brouoht  to  a 
successful  issue  by  the  passage  of  a  resolution,  by  con-^rc.  admittL  ' 
the  new  state  upon  conditions  afterwards  compHed  wYt^by  Texr' 
Tins  measure,  as  might  naturally  be  expected,  excited  the  utmost 
.donation  of  the  Mexican  authorities.     General'  Almont     mi  X 

X^r^AU    J::;r'^"''  ""^^  ^^  angry  protest,  dem^ndedtl 
passports.     All  friendly  communication  between  the  two  govern 
ments  was  suspended  until  the  ensuing  October,  when  the  4x  "  . 
g  vernment,  upon  application  through  the  American  consu     M 
Black,  agreed  to  receive  a  commissioner  from  the  United  States  fo i"- 

jZsri  ir  ^""^''^^'— g--t  of  the  disputed  q:5io 
Mr  John  Shdell  was  appointed  to  this  responsible  service  and  irn 
mediately  proceeded  to  Vera  Cru.  on  his  way  to  the  c^. 

General  Paredes  had  in  the  mean  time  organized  a  party  of  those 
opposed  to^a  peaceful  .ttlement,  and  so  fonnidable  L  ^U^: 


194 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


of  this  movement,  tlmt  the  Mexican  ministry,  prolmbly  to  propitiate 
the  tnalooritents,  postponed  negotiations  with  Mr.  Slidell  u[)on  friv- 
olous pretexts  of  irregularity  in  his  coinniiHsion.  At  tlic  close  of 
tiie  following  December,  President  Ilcrrcra  resigned  liis  oflice  to 
Paredes,  and  nil  efforts  of  the  United  States'  envoy  to  oj)en,  in 
accordance  with  further  instructions  from  home,  friendly  communi- 
cations with  the  new  government,  proved  fruitless.  He  therefore 
left  Mexico,  leaving  the  jiurpoaes  of  his  mission  unaccomplished. 

Under  the  military  dictator  who  now  wielded  the  destinies  of 
Mexico,  immediate  preparations  were  made  for  the  reeonquest  of 
Texas.  A  considerable  force  was  already  stationed  at  Matunioras, 
and  thither  General  Ampudia  was  dispatched,  in  April,  IS-K),  with 
a  body  of  cavalry.  Two  thousand  more  troops  were  ordered  to  the 
same  station. 

General  Zachary  Taylor,  who  had  been  for  some  months  previous 
stationed,  in  command  of  United  States'  troops,  at  Cor[)us  Cliristi 
having  received  orders  to  march  to  the  mouth  of  the  liio  Grande 
reached  Point  Isabel  on  the  25th  of  March ;  and  leaving  a  portion 
of  his  troops  to  occupy  a  position  at  that  place,  moved  up  the  river 
until  opposite  Matamoras.  lie  there  caused  works  to  l)e  erected 
and  stationed  a  battery  which  commanded  the  town.  Generals 
Arista  and  Ampudia  were  soon  upon  the  spot,  in  command  of  a 
large  and  constantly-increasing  force.  Upon  communication  being 
established  between  the  commanding  officers  of  the  respective  forces 
General  Taylor  was  commanded  to  draw  off  his  troops,  as  havifig 
infringed  the  Mexican  rights  of  territory. 

Although,  as  has  been  truly  remarked,  the  claims  of  Mexico  ex- 
tended not  only  to  the  district  lying  between  the  Nueces  and  the 
Rio  Grande,  and  traversed  by  the  United  States'  forces  on  their 
march  to  Matamoras,  but  to  every  portion  of  the  revolted  province 
of  Texas,  the  occupation  of  this  tract  by  the  United  States  has  been 
laid  down  by  many  as  the  true  cause  of  the  Mexican  w  Tin  re  h 
some  slight  conflict  of  authorities  upon  the  question  of  'h*  ■'!'.  'UA' 
boundaries  of  Texas,  but  the  weight  of  authority  seepifi  <c.  pjint  ,o 
the  Rio  Grande  as  the  dividing  line.  The  Texans  had  always 
claimed  this  as  the  limit  of  their  territory  since  the  time  of  the 
revolt,  and  had  included  the  dis])uted  ground  in  their  assignments 
of  representative  districts. 

Thai  k  -va3  ever  deliberate!     proposed  by  the  Mexican  govern- 
ment io   rdertake  a  war  with  so  powerful  a  nation  as  the  United 


THK  CONQUEST  AND   iUSTORV   OF  MKXICO.  195 

States  for  tlio  pnrposo  of  miintnini.,ry  ;♦„     1  ■ 

cliHtrict,  ns  <li«tL.tV,.om    I^  "^  '     1  7^^  '''"  ""^''"'^'^^ 
a     rn  ,.  iiuuoimi  sense  of  ipniry  siiHtained  l.v 

the  lexan  annexation    can,.ot  l,e  for  a  nu.rr.ent  liieve d     "t  0 
true  ongm  o     he  Mex.can  war."  «a.ys  Mayer,  "was  not  this  mu 
of  lay  or  an.l  h.s  troopH  from  the  Nueces  to  the  Hie  Grand     hZh 
l,e  debatable  land:  the  American  an.l  Mexican  troops  were       2.t 
face  to  fiux.  by  the  act,  and  hostilities  were  the  natural  ro!u      u 
the  exc,  mK  annoyances  on  the  part  of  the  Mexican  gover  u  en 
.Inch  fallowed  the  un.on  of  Texas  with  our  confederacy  " 
Ihe  first  encounter  took  place  on  tlm  onu  .r  \      -.      1 
Danv  of  United   ^f,.f«='    1  "^  ^f""'''  ^'^"^n  ^  com- 

(     pany  ot  Un  ted  States    dragoons,   under  Captain  Thornton    were 

wnyhud  wlnle  out  upon  a  scouting  expedition  up  the  river  bin k 
,  n  after  some  ght.ng.  in  which  sixteen  of  tlfeir  numW  v  0 
I     killed  or  wounded  were  obliged  to  surrender.    A  «mall  parw     om 

m..s,oned  on  s.rndar  service,  had  been,  previous  to  th  s'    ufoft' 0 

taken  prisoners  by  the  Mexicans 

GcLl  Taylor-sUll^.r  td  tr:S  :^' tll^^ C^^ 
merely  a.  a  check  upon  precipitate  action  by  t  e  Me    1        :" 

i;  t  v;"^''^^'' "■^'  ""''^'"^'"" '''''  ^'"-'^^^«  result  T.:^ 

out  the  Union  op.mons  were  various,  both  in  regard  to  the  nZv  of 
Texan  annexation  and  to  the  wisdom  of  tl,„  nie  j  olicy  of 

direct  occasion  for  a  ruptur     Tut     hen  t  Tl''  ^*""''  ^'^"^ 

shed  was  spread  through  tL  cou  t    t  o'  """  f/'r   ""'  '^""'■ 
the  honour   nf  fl.„         ■  ^"""*'.y.  the  general  feelmg  was  that 

fienor,!  T,rt,r     nf  ,  f      provinces  wa,  to  be  assigned  to 

Gu     S     -pac  fic"'r'  ''""  t"""'"""^"  ''■^'^''  '""^  '"  "-^ 
lion  in  the  wan  '  "''  «"""•"'  '"'"<*''"'»  ^"^  "'"Po™- 


196  ■ 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTOEY. 


General  Taylor,  meantime,  threatened  as  he  was  by  a  vastly  supe- 
rior force,  in  accordance  with  his  instructions  in  case  of  emergency, 
made  a  requisition  upon  the  states  of  Louisiana  and  Texas  for  a 
reinforcement  of  volunteers.  He  then  marched  to  Point  Isabel  with 
the  most  effective  portion  of  his  army,  to  procure  provisions  and 
supplies  for  tlie  forces  opposite  Matamoras.  While  this  service  was 
being  effected,  General  Arista  transported  his  army  across  the  river 
to  intercept  the  escort  upon  its  return.  He  was  in  command  of  some 
six  thousand  regular  troops,  besides  a  very  considerable  body  of  raw- 
recruits.  On  the  8th  of  May,  the  day  after  its  departure  from  Point 
Isabel,  the  army  under  General  Taylor,  numbering  only  two  thou- 
sand two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  men,  was  encoun'  .  _ ■  at  Palo 
Alto  by  the  forces  of  Arista. 

Against  such  overwhelming  odds  our  troops  maintained  their  posi- 
tion from  two  o'clock  P.  M.  until  night-fall.  The  Mexicans,  havino' 
drawn  off  their  forces,  a  council  was  held,  at  which  there  was  some 
conflict  of  opinion  as  to  the  prudence  of  further  advance.  I^he  o-aj- 
lant  commander  decided,  however,  that  the  necessity  for  affordiii" 
relief  to  the  garrison  Avas  sufficient  to  justify  the  hazard  of  the 
attempt,  while  the  day's  experience  of  the  comparative  efficiency  of 
the  two  armies  gave  reasonable  encouragement  of  success. 

On  the  day  following,  Arista  was  found  to  have  retreated  to  a 
strong  position  at  the  "Pesaca  de  la  Palma,"  a  ravine  through  wliicli 
the  road  led,  and  which  was  almost  impenetrable  on  cither  side  from 
tlie  rank  growth  of  tropical  plants  and  underwood,  commonly  called 
the  "chapparal."  Notwithstanding  tlieir  favourable  jiosition  and 
superior  numbers,  the  Mexicans  Avere  unable  to  defend  tlie  pa>s, 
Bi-oken  and  disordered  by  the  lire  of  the  artillery  and  infontry,  they 
gave  way  in  mass  before  a  charge  of  cavalry,  and,  retreating  to  tlie 
river,  left  the  way  open  for  the  passage  of  the  army  with  its  supplies 
to  the  fort.  The  18th  of  May  saw  INlatamoras  in  [lossession  of  the 
American  forces. 

During  the  summer,  which  was  passed  by  General  Taylor  in 
strengtboning  his  position,  establishing  lines  of  communication,  and 
gradually  extending  his  occujiation  of  the  coinitry,  an  impurtaiit 
politic.a  change  took  place  in  Mexico.  A  revolutionary  movement 
in  favour  of  Santa  Aniin,  then  an  exile  in  the  \V(>st  Indies,  over- 
threw the  jiower  of  the  usurper  Parcdcs.  'ilie  ex-presidciit  was 
allowed  to  pass  the  United  States'  blockading  siiuadron  by  espro'S 
orders  from  government,  in  the  hope  that  his  influence  would  he 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HisTOKY  OF  MEXICO.  197 

exerted  to  restore  a  friendly  communication  between  the  belligerent 
countnes  and  to  cement  an  honourable  peace.     This  nieoo  nf  f  1 

smcc  evinced  by  Santa  Anna  towards  the  United  States  has  con- 
nbuted  to  render  .t  unpopular.  There  can,  however,  be  no  doubt 
but  that  the  act  was  in  accordance  with  what  then  appeared  the 
exigencies  of  the  case,  so  far  as  information  could  be  pro^rcd  1  to 
he  purposes  and  probable  conduct  of  the  able  buf  unpr  ncrpled 
leader,  who  has  so  lonsr  hold  t]m  m^.„f  •  ,       ""punoipiea 

history.  prominent  place  in  Mexican 

In  the  month  of  September,  the  divisions  under  Generals  Worth 
nd  Tayk>r,  having  penetrated  to  their  future  head  quT  ers  te 
l^alnut  Springs,  not  far  from  Monterey,  the  capital  of  nZt 
preparations  were  made  for  an  attack  upon  this  h ^  t-  t  ci         ^^ 
p  ace  was  well  defended  by  artillery,  and  the  flower    f  the  Mexic  n 

r         1  A^T     ,,    .  "^°  divisions  to  the  attack  of  thp  oit^ 

f...  :        ■,    -^  ^''^  enemy,  who  were  enabled  to  fi.rlif 

..n  covert,  and  whose  artillery  .deed   the  streets,  c    'i„uedt 
extend  their  occuimtion  until  night-fall.     On  tl,e  '>9a  th.T 
troops^  taking  possession  of  ti.e  buildim.  on  ^l^rti^lfT'''""" 

As  tlie  city  was  now  virtually  in  the   nower  of  ih.  ■      [ 


lie  had  gainuJ  :m  important  post; 


198 


TlIK  I'KOl'LE'S    BOOK    ()  l<'   ItlSTOKY, 


his  forces  wore  sUlI  miiucriciilly  inlbrior  to  tliosc  of  the  enemy;  and 
from  what  coukl  bo  gathered  from  the  reports  of  tlie  Mexiean  olfieorfl, 
there  api)eared  reason  to  hope  for  tlie  speedy  establishment  of  a 
peaee,  witnout  fnrtlier  bloodsliod.  A  temjjorary  armistice  was  there- 
fore arranged  between  the  belligerent  armies. 


SANTA   ANNA'S  C  I[  A  N  (!!•;  OP  POLICY.  —  (I  E  N  K  U  A  I,  SCOTT'S  PLAN 
OF   CAMPAIGN.  —  1)  K  P  M  A  T  OF  TIlK  MEXICAN   ARMY   AT  IIUKNA 

VISTA. MEXICAN    POLITICS. CAPTlMiK  OP   V  P  11  A   CllUZ. 

M.\lU'iI     INTO    TlIK    INTPUIOR.  —  llATTI.li    OP    CKRRO 

OOROO. — OCCPPATION   OP  PUKDI.A. — 0U.KR1LI,A   WAR- 

P  A  RE. F  R  U  IT!,  K  S  S    N  K  (1  0  T  1  A  T  I  0  N  S. ADVANCE 

UPON  THE  CAPITAL. 


Santa  Anna,  on  liis  rotnrn  to  Mexico,  soon  perceived  that  tlie 
views  of  centraliziitii)n  which  he  had  ever  entertained  must  now  be 
abandoned,  if  he  would  nuiintain  his  position  as  a  popular  leader. 
lie  therefore  })nblished  his  intentions  to  favour  the  fqderal  system 
and  the  reestablishnient  of  tlie  constitution  of  182-1.  With  an 
aircctation  of  modesty  and  of. self  sacrificing  devotion  to  his  country, 
lie  declined  the  acceptance  of  prolfcred  dictatorial  powers  in  the  civil 
govcrnnient,  and  avowed  his  determination  to  lend  his  whole  ener- 
gies to  the  duties  of  a  military  commander.  After  a  most  enthusi- 
astic reception  at  the  capital,  and  a  prompt  and  ciu'rgctic  response 
to  his  rcipiisitions  for  troops,  he  established  liimself  at  San  Luis 
Potosi,  withdrawing  liimself  for  the  time  from  the  political  agitations 
which  distracted  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  spending  his  time  in  pre- 
paring and  equipping  his  line  army.  Early  in  the  winter  ol'  1816 
his  availal)K'  force  amounted  to  about  twenty  thousand  men,  and  he 
rightly  judged  that  by  eonlirming  his  military  authority  he  more 
elVcctnally  secured  supremacy  than  by  mingling  actively  in  factions 
politics.  He  nevertheless  accepted  oilice  upon  his  election  to  the 
l)rovisi()nal  presidency,  which  took  jilace  on  the  2iid  of  December. 

The  L'nited  States'  government  having  ajiptjinted  General  Winfield 


jncmy;  and 
ican  oll'icora, 
hmcnt  of  a 
;o  was  there- 


OTT'S  I'LAN 
AT  IIUKNA 

I  A  (MIUZ. 
(!  \'.  K  it  0 
WAR- 

NCK 


c(l  that  tlie 
lust  now  bo 
ular  leader, 
oral  system 
AVitli  an 
his  country, 

in  the  civil 
whole  eiicr- 
ost  enthusi- 
ic  response 
t  San  Luis 
il  agitations 
iine  in  pre- 
tcr  of  18-16 
nen,  and  he 
ty  ho  more 

in  factious 
!tion  to  the 
DeconilxT. 
•al  Wii.liel.l 


L_ 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HI8T0KY    OF  MEXICO.  199 

Scott  commander^n-chief  of  tlie  army  in  Mexico,  extensive  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  a  new  campaign,  to  be  conducted  in  accordance 
with  the  views  of  that  veteran  chief.  It  was  proposed  to  seze  0" 
Vera  Cruz,  and  thence  to  march  direct  for  the  capital.     In  cXctin^ 

General  Taylor's  best  troops  were  drawn  off  from  the  conquered 
d>stnct  on  the  Eio  Grande,  leaving  the  army  of  occupation  in  a  col 
d:tion  me  capable  of  resisting  so  formidaJe  a  forceCha  eon  1 
trated  at  San  Luis,  were  there  no  disparity  between  the  respective 
armies  other  than  that  of  numbers.  ■i«'>pt;cnve 

By  the  interception  of  a  dispatch,'  the  Mexican  commander-in-chief 
in  the  month  of  December,  1846,  obtained  information  respec^^l 
he  intended  descent  upon  Vera  Cruz,  and  it  was  soon  known  that 
he  was  busily  engaged  m  preparations  for  an  attack  upon  the  reduced 
division  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Knowing  that  he  nLt  prepare  to 
encounter  an  army  more  than  quadruple  the  troops  under  his  com- 
Z''frV'''"'  concentrated  his  scattered'regiments  at  the 
Pass  of  Angostura,  a  point  in  which  either  flank  waT  protected  bv 
nioun  ains,  ravines  and  gullies  impassable  for  cavalry,  and  s     eely 

at  Agua  Nuev.,  thirteen  miles  from  the  pass,  under  General  Wool 
to  gain  intelligence  of  the  expected  approach  of  the  enemy.  ' 

huSr  The  litf "  "  "'  'r°  ''  ^'°"*  ''^'  *^— d  -V- 

skill  and  in  so  f        T/  """"'  ^'^'^'''  ^'^^^^^^  ''^'^^  «"«^  "^'^^tary 
skill,  and  in  so  favourable  a  position,  that  for  two  days  Santa  Anna 

n  vain  endeavoured  to  force  a  passage.     He  came  up'ln  the  Ameri- 
can encampment  on  the  afternoon  of  February  22d,  1847,  and  un  i 
n.gh  -fal  and  throughout  the  following  day' kep    the  Americ 
constantly  engaged.    The  astonishing  result  of  this  hard-fought  b    1 

vas  cluefly  owing  to  the  admirable  management  of  the  L  piec  I 

tt?  7Jrr'  '^  '"  ''''''''''  ^^^^-  P'--     On  the  nil    of 
u  tai^;]  commenced  a  retreat  to  San  Luis  Potosi,  l^avin. 

sustained  an  immense  loss,  and  having  witnessed  the  total  fa  lure  of 
h  s  attemp    against  the  weakened  army  of  occupation.     The  n  in 
of  the  neighbouring  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista  has  always  since  been 
applied  to  d.s.nguish  tliis  memorable  and  important  e,  ^"1'; 

S^ns  "  '?''"'"'  °'  '^'  vice-president  Farias,  and  the 

re  en  Iv"  '^'"•^''' f""''^  "^  ^^»--^  Pnvilegcs  and  emoluments 

had  recently  been  curtailed.     Civil  war  was  added  anew  to  the  dan- 


200 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


ger  and  anxieties  attendant  upon  foreign  invasion.  At  the  close  of 
the  ensuing  month,  the  friends  of  the  church  carried  their  points  in 
congress :  the  office  of  the  vice-president  was  annulled ;  the  president 
himself  was  formally  put  in  command  of  the  armies—his  place  to  bo 
supplied  by  a  substitute  during  his  employment  in  the  field;  and  a 
new  president  was  to  be  elected  on  the  15th  of  the  ensuing  month 
of  May,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  constitution  of  1824. 
Don  Pedro  Anaya  was  chosen  as  the  temporary  executive. 

Meanwhile,  important  operations  were  in  progress  on  the  coast. 
The  main  body  of  the  American  army,  under  General  Scott,  sailed 
from  the  rendezvous  at  the  island  of  Lobos,  for  Vera  Cruz,  on  the 
7th  of  March,  1847.  Notwithstanding  the  overwhelming  force 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  place,  the  authorities  refused  to  surrender 
trusting  perhaps  to  the  strength  of  their  renowned  fortress,  or  willing 
to  see  their  town  battered  to  pieces,  rather  than  permit  the  hated 
foreigners  to  pursue  their  career  of  conquest  unmolested.  A  can- 
nonade was  commenced  on  the  18th,  from  the  ships  lying  off  the 
harbour  and  from  the  batteries  planted  on  the  land,  which  continued, 
with  little  intermission,  until  the  2Gth,  when  the  garrison  capitulated. 
The  town  was  terribly  shattered,  and  the  needless  destruction  of 
nearly  one  thousand  of  the  inhabitants,  of  every  age  and  sex,  was  the 
result  of  the  obstinacy  or  inflituation  of  the  commanding  officers. 
During  the  continuance  of  the  bombardment  "it  is  estimated  that 
our  army  and  navy  threw  into  the  town  about  six  thousand  shot 
and  shells,  weighing  upwards  of  463,000  pounds." 

The  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa  was  at  the  same  time  surrendered- 
and  a  great  amount  of  arms  and  artillery  was  taken  possession  of  by 
the  victors:  some  five  thousand  prisoners  of  war  were  set  at  liberty 
upon  parole.  The  command  of  Vera  Cruz  was  assigned  to  General 
Worth,  and  the  commander-in-chief,  with  between  eiglit  and  nine 
thousand  troops,  took  up  his  line  of  march  for  the  interior. 

President  Santa  Anna,  having  now  hastened  to  the  future  scene 
of  action,  commenced  a  reconnoissance  of  the  road  for  the  selection 
of  a  suitable  spot  for  a  stand  to  be  made  against  tlie  invaders.  lie 
decided  upon  taking  a  position  at  Cerro  Gordo,  where  the  higlnvay 
enters  the  mountain  country.  1'he  locality  is  thus  described  hv  Mr. 
Mayer:  "About  seven  leagues  from  Jalapa  the  edge  of  one  of  the 
table  lands  of  the  Cordillei'a  sweeps  down  fi'om  the  west  abi'uptly 
into  this  pass  of  the  river  Plan.  On  both  sides  of  this  i)reci])itou.s 
elevation  the  mountains  tower  majestically.     The  road  winds  slowly 


he  close  of 
r  points  in 
e  president 
place  to  be 
eld;  and  a 
ing  month 
1  of  1824. 
a. 

the  coast, 
cott,  sailed 
uz,  on  the 
ning  force 
surrender, 
or  willing 
the  hated 
I.  A  can- 
ng  off  the 
continued, 
apitulated, 
ruction  of 
;x,  was  the 
ig  officers, 
nated  that 
;sand  shot 

•rendered; 
sion  of  by 
at  liberty 
0  General 
and  nine 

;ure  scene 

'  selection 
der.s.     He 

highway 
ed  hy  Mr. 
tie  of  the 

abruptly 
ri'ci])it(>us 
ids  slowly 


THE  0ON«UE8T  AND  U.STOBY  OP  MEXICO.  JOI 

.«d  r„„gl,ly  „l„„g  ,1,0  «„„t  M,,  „,,i„,,  ^,^^^  ^^^^ 

o.i.e.  side .,.  -o,.,„,otC;:'ri:^;;*fx  ■ " ;;" ;;:: 

„„i,e  »d  ph,„gc  dow„w„rdH  S:  i^-^^^S:,  :t'''''''°';'';f  •>»!» 

ad"  j:;::r;r„:ra";.a't;tixf rr-' -'"r  "^ -'"'"^ 

.l.ou,a,,dmonfeLl„»i;„A,r,rLLtTa:.:'T"  ■■"'"  '""f 
an  attack.    The  fan.ouB  battle  of  Oorro  G„T'  t!,  ""  '"'""f '^ 

centre  and  either  flank  h  the  f  '  '  f  ,  ."^  n""?™;'"^"''  "''""  "«= 
on,  batterie.,,  and  cond  e L  u  w  ove  d,  ?"/™".*"  """"'■ 
gave  the  a^ilant.  a  con,plete  «o;  i  "'Z'!';,  '"  '"'f'"™' 
onen,  were  taken,  among  whom  were  Ave  .t  "'  '"'"" 

hundred  minor  offleers  JalZ  !,T,..f  ''''';.'""'  ""•"'^  """ 
submitted  without  re.  toatr  A^ tl  e"h     "T    '"'"'^  "'■'"'""■"" 

->c,  .hieh.  with  all  i.  .«n,ef;j:;:,i  ,rs,.Zr;^f :? 

Genera.  Worth,  and  „„  the  2%°orti:' e  s  t!":  ,  73,;:'''" 

=l^tt,:;rs;r:£H^ -= 

of  >ts  dofoncos,  and  to  tl.c  arousal  hyeZl  n         '  .^  t  """"'"? 

tbo  natmnal  hatred  against  the  invudL     A  bin  ^^'.  ,  ^""^^^^^^  ^^ 

in  w],ieh  savao-e  cruStv  on  i}JT.   i     ^'°"Jy  g"enlhi  warfare, 

attended  the  onward  rnar   .^^A  «  t"  tl^  ''"''"^  ""^^'"■"- 
______^  '^^"^  '^^"y  >  ^^"  J  the  maintenance  of  the 


202 


TflK  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


garrisons  and  military  lines  of  communication  throughout  the  con- 
quered districts. 

While  General  Seott  was  stationed  at  Puebla,  a  negotiation  was 
opened,  by  the  assistance  of  the  British  minister,  between  the  Amer- 
ican commissioner,  Mr.  Trist,  and  the  Mexican  president.  Certain 
violent  denunciations  in  a  recent  decree  of  congress  against  any  who 
should  propose  or  entertain  any  plans  for  the  conclusion  of  a  treaty 
with  the  United  States,  rendered  both  the  president  and  the  legisla- 
tive members  exceedingly  cautious  respecting  their  movements  in 
this  emergency.  The  negotiation  proved  entirely  fruitless,  but  it  led 
to  a  singular  secret  correspondence  between  Santa  Anna  and  the 
American  commanding  officers.  The  former  made  propositions  for 
the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  negotiate  a  peace,  conditionally 
upon  the  placing  at  his  own  disposal  of  a  considerable  sum  of  money, 
and  the  promise  of  a  much  larger  payment  upon  the  satisfactory  con- 
clusion of  a  treaty.  General  Scott,  in  accordance  with  the  opinions 
of  a  majority  of  his  principal  military  associates,  consented  to  this 
first  payment— amounting  to  ten  thousand  dollars— out  of  a  "secret 
service"  fund  at  his  disposal,  continuing  meanwhile  his  preparations 
against  the  capital.  As  nothing  of  importance  resulted  from  this 
correspondence,  it  remains  merely  a  matter  of  curious  inquiry 
whether  the  Mexican  dictator  was  really  influenced  by  any  other 
motives,  in  his  conduct  relating  to  this  affair,  than  by  the  hope  of 
private  emolument. 

General  Scott's  army,  recruited  to  about  the  number  of  ten  thou- 
sand men,  by  the  middle  of  August  lay  encamped  at  Ayotla,  Chalco, 
and  in  the  vicinity,  within  the  valley  of  Mexico,  and  upon  the  bor- 
ders of  the  marshy  lake  of  Chalco.  Santa  Anna,  who  had  collected 
three  times  this  number  of  troops,  had  not  been  idle  in  preparing  for 
the  defence  of  every  available  route  to  the  city.  The  exteiit  to 
which  arms  and  ammunition  had  been  manufactured  in  the  country 
to  meet  the  exigency  of  the  occasion,  and  the  strength  and  scientific 
structure  of  the  fortifications,  ar.jused  the  admiration  of  those  unac- 
quainted with  the  resources  of  the  nation. 

After  a  thorough  reconnoissance  of  the  Mexican  defences,  the 
American  commander-in-chief  decided  upon  pursuing  his  march 
around  the  southern  border  of  the  hike  to  Tlalpam,  or  San  Agustin, 
where  the  road  joins  the  great  southern  highway  leading  to  the 
capital.  This  position  was  accordingly  occupied,"  little  opposition 
having  been  experienced  upon  the  route,  on  the  17th  and  18th  of 


THE   CONQUEST  AND   IIISTORV 


OF  MEXICO. 


203 


the  month.  The  Mexican  commander  hiboured  under  the  disadvan- 
tago  of  be.ng  compelled  to  distribute  his  forces  among  the  various 
forfficafons  on  either  of  the  four  routes  by  which  General  Scott 
might  make  a  descent  upon  the  city,  and  these  posts  were  at  such  a 
distance  rorn  each  other  that  several  days  must  elapse  before  the 
mam  body  of  the  army  could  be  concentrated  at  any  threatened  point 


CHAPTEE   IXI?. 

"v'IrT:?    'V''    ^'^^^-«IS    r^ANS    THWARTEI.    BY 
VALENCIA.— BATTLE    AT    CONTRER AS.— SEIZURE     OP    SAX 
ANTONIO.-BATTLE  OF  CHURUBUSCO.-NEOOTIATIONS.-' 
STORMING   OF   THE   MOLINO    DEL    REY    AND    THE    CAS. 
MATA.— OP     THE     FORTRESS     OP     CHAPULTEPEC  — 
EVACUATION  OF  THE  CITY.  — ITS  OCCUPATION  BY 
THE  AMERICAN  FORC  ES.— FIN  AL  MILITARY  OP- 
ERATIONS.—TREATY  AT  GUADALUPE  HIDALGO. 

Santa  Anna,  upon  learning  the  movement  of  the  Americans 
hastened  to  collect  the  detached  divisions  of  his  army  in  Ze To 
intercept  the  passage  of  the  southern  route  to  the  eity^He  took  his 
own  position  at  the  hacienda  of  San  Antonio  upon  the  main  ro.d 
and  dispatched  General  Valencia  to  the  defence  of  the  llj  oS^f; 
practicable  route,  that  by  San  Angel  and  Cayacan,  leading  by  a  mule 
patl,  across  the  rugged  plain  of  lava  called  the  Pedregai;  and  it 
the  base  of  the  western  mountain  range  ° 

According  to  the  arrangements  of  the  Mexican  commander-in-chief 
a  vastly  superior  force  could  be  brought  into  action  at  either  poh^ 
where  the  invaders  might  attempt  to  force  a  passage;  but  his  ph  s 
were  disconcerted  by  the  disobedience  and  obstina^v  of    is  ,  ubo'i 
nate.    Valencia,  in  defiance  of  orders,  n.oved  southward  w  t h  h i^ 
fo  ees,  and  erected  works  of  defence  at  Contreras,  or  pldi  rn" 
between  the  Pedregal  and  the  mountains;  thus  cutti  .  off  coZu- 
n.ca  ion  with  the  army  at  San  Antonio,  a^d  renderin^lnfcomnv  "l 
nearly  useless  by  the  occupation  of  ground  said  to  hav    beeTp  o 
nounced  indefensible  by  competent  engineers.  ^ 

I  he  result  proved  the  fblly  of  his  conduct.     On  the  19th  of  Au- 
gust, one  division  of  the  American  army,  unaided  bv 


eav 


airy 


or 


20t 


THE   rEOPLE'S   BOOK   OK   ItlSTOUY. 


nrtillory,  forced  n  piissago  over  tli(<  rough  plain  of  Inva,  nrul  attacked 
tlio  Mexican  fortiflcatioiis.  Night  caiiio  on,  with  cold  and  heavy 
rain,  lu-forc  any  ilcciMivo  rcsnif,  hut  on  the  next  morning  the  works 
wore  Htonned,  and  a  complete  victory  was  gained  by  the  Aincricians. 
'I'lio  M(!xican  loss,  of  those  who  fell  upon  the  field,  or  were  taken 
]u-iHont!rs,  was  not  far  from  (Iftcen  hundred,  and  great  stores  of  artil- 
lery  and  small-arms,  together  with  nudes,  horses,  &c.,  fell  into  tlio 
hands  of  the  victors. 

The  victory  at  Controras  was  hut  the  comtncnccmont  of  the  bril- 
liant achievements  of  the  American  army  on  this  eventful  2()th  of 
Aligns!.  Santa  Anna,  with  a  {)owcrfnl  reserve,  had  np])roached  tho 
scene  of  action  during  the  contest,  but  too  late  to  offer  any  eflectiml 
assistance.  The  works  at  the  hacienda  of  San  Antonio  were  forml 
and  occupied  by  a  masterly  movement  of  the  division  under  General 
Wocth,  and  the  garrison  of  about  three  thousand  men,  in  full  retreat 
towards  the  capital,  was  met,  and  a  second  time  defeated  by  the  forces 
under  Colonel  Clarke,  who  had  mado  a  circuit  through  tho  Pedregal 
from  tlie  western  road. 

At  the  village  of  Churubusco,  on  tho  great  road,  hetweon  San 
Antonio  and  the  city  of  Mexico,  strong  military  works  had  been 
erected.  The  convent  of  StNi  Pablo,  at  that  spot,  was  garrisoned 
and  strongly  fortified;  the  bridge  by  which  the  road  there  crosses  a 
stri'am  was  protected  by  a  "<.fc  ik  2W7it;"  and  every  thing  connected 
with  the  locality  offered  advantages  for  a  stand  against  the  invadinir 
army.  Little  time  was  given  to  the  Mexicans  to  collect  and  dispose 
their  forces  at  this  stronghold  ere  it  was  attacked  with  the  greatest 
impetuosity.  The  hk  de  j>otit  was  forced  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet 
and,  aOer  several  hours'  hard  fighting,  the  convent  shared  the  .-jinio 
fate.  A  detachment  under  Generals  Picrco  and  Shields  had  mean- 
time been  engaged  in  making  a  detour  to  cat  off  retr(\it  to  the  cap- 
ital. As  the  division  of  the  latter  approached  the  main  road,  it  was 
encountered  by  some  four  thousand  of  the  enemy.  A  severe  en- 
gagement ensued,  in  which  the  fortune  of  the  day  was  slill  with  tho 
Americans.  The  victorious  troops  under  Generals  Worth  and  Pil- 
low, after  the  reduction  of  Churubusco,  continued  to  press  on  towards 
the  capital;  and,  falling  in  with  Shields'  division,  assisted  in  tlio 
punsuii  of  the  fugitive  Mexicans.  The  latter  were  now  deprived  of 
every  means  of  defence  by  the  sontliern  route  up  to  the  walls  of  tlie 
city,  and  the  ancient  capital  itself  appeared  already  within  the  grasp 
of  the  American  commander. 


tul  nttftckod 
iitul  liwivy 
tlio  workH 
Airuiricriviis. 
wvro  tak(!ii 
ro8  of  artil- 
ill  into  tliu 

)f  tlio  hril- 
111  2()tli  of 
(mclicd  tlio 
\y  ell'octun! 
vcro  furcal 
lor  Qeucral 
full  retroat 
^  tliii  forces 
10  I'ed  regal 

twoon  San 

liiul  Ik-cii 

garriHOMcd 

'(!  crossoH  a 

connected 

0  invading 
nd  dispose 
lie  greatest 
e  bayonet 

1  tlH>  f-anic 
liad  mean- 
to  the  (-ap- 
oad,  it  was 
severe  en- 
il  with  the 
h  and  Pil- 
3n  towards 
tod  in  tlio 
?privod  of 
.'alls  of  the 
1  the  grasp 


• . "  ».^;^..  Ji^~^T. 


GENERAL  SCOTT. 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  IIISTOKY  OF  MEXICO.  205 

On  the  21st,  as  General  Scott  was  already  engaged  in  arrangements 
for  commencing  an  assault  upon  the  city,  proposals  for  an  armistice 
were  received  from  the  Mexican  authorities.  Willing  to  spare  fur- 
ther effusion  of  blood,  and  conscious  of  the  extreme  difficulty  and 
danger  of  entering  a  crowded  city,  strongly  built,  and  still  contain- 
ing a  large  force  of  regular  soldiery,  the  American  commander-in- 
cluef  wisely  consented  to  the  temporary  cessation  of  hostilities  for 
the  purpose  of  negotiating  a  treaty  that  might  end  the  war. 

In  the  beleaguered  capital  all  was  tumult  and  confusion  The 
congress  could  hardly  be  said  to  exist,  as  many  of  its  members  had 
already  left  the  city.  Intrigues  and  private  animosity  precluded  any 
combined  and  sober  action,  while  an  isnorant  and  infuriated  mob 
continued  to  cry  out  for  resistance  to  the  last.  The  Mexicans  had 
begun  to  lose  faith  in  their  president,  and  powerful  parties  were  at 
work  for  his  overthrow.  In  the  negotiations  which  occupied  the 
interval  of  truce,  the  American  demands  were  considered  extrava-ant 
by  the  Mexican  commissioners  and  their  superiors,  and  the  Latter 
appear  to  have  only  sought  delay,  by  means  of  which  they  micrht 
in  defiance  of  stipulations,  strengthen  their  works  and  reorgaiiize^r 
the  defence  of  their  city. 

General  Scott  therefore  gave  notice  to  the  president,  on  the  6th  of 
bopteinber,  that  hostilities  would  recommence  on  the  followin<r  d'ly 
unless  atonement  were  previously  made  for  these  breaches  of  °reaty 
He  received,  in  reply,  but  threats  and  defiance.  The  American  gen- 
era s  head-quarters  were  fixed  at  Tacubaya,  a  few  miles  south-west 
of  the  city,  ai.proach  to  which  from  that  quarter  was  intercepted  by 
tlic  strong  castle  of  Chapultepec,  situated  upon  a  hill,  and  by  stron.^ 
military  works  at  the  foundry  called  the  Molino  del  Ecy,"and  the 
Oasa  Mata,  both  occupying  commanding  positions  iu  the  immediate 
vicinity  at  the  westward. 

To  force  and  occupy  these  all-important  positions  became  necessary 
before  an  attack  could  .safely  be  made  upon  the  city  itself  lost  in 
cnse  of  successful  assault,  the  enemy  should  have  a  stron-hokl 'for 
rctieat,  from  which  the  divided  and  weakened  forces  of  the  victors 
nnght  iail  to  dislodge  them.  The  plan  of  General  Scott  was  to  carry 
what  maybe  considered  the  out-works  of  Chapultepec  at  Molino  del' 
Key  and  Casa  Mata;  then  to  make  a  demonstration  upon  the  south 
of  the  city;  and,  having  diverted  the  attention  of  the  besieged,  to 
storm  Chapultepec,  and  enter  the  ca],ital  from  the  south-west. 

ihe  roinlorced  division   under  General  Worth  was  accordingly 


J 


206 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


placed  in  position  before  day-liglit  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  of 
September.     The  attack  commenced  with  the  first  dawn,  and  after 
several  hours'  hard  fighting,  the  object  was  attained.     The  fortifica- 
tions at  the  Casa  Mata  were  blown  up,  and  the  moulds  and  ammu- 
nition at  the  Molino  were    destroyed.    So  remarkable  an  action 
deserves  a  more  particular  account  than  we  have  space  to  bestow 
Mr.  Mayer  remarks  upon  it:  "This  was  a  great  but  a  rash  victory' 
ihe  American  infantry,  relying  chiefly  on  the  bayonet,  and  expect- 
ing to  effect  its  object  by  surprise,  and  even  at  an  earlier  hour  of  the 
morning,  advanced  with  portions  of  the  three  thousand  two  hundred 
and  fifty-one  men,  to  attack  at  least  eleven  or  twelve  thousand  Mex- 
icans, upon  a  field  selected  by  themselves,  protected  by  stone  walls 
and  ditches,  commanded  by  the  fortress  of  Chapultepec,  and  the 
ground  swept  by  artillery,  while  four  thousand  cavalry  threatened 
an  overwhelming  charge!" 

The  attention  of  Santa  Anna  was  fully  occupied  bv  the  apparent 
preparations  for  an  attack  upon  the  south,  until  the  13th.     So  well 
were  these  movements  planned  and  conducted,  that  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  penetrate  the  intentions  of  the  American  commander  al- 
though throughout  the  12th  a  heavy  cannonade  was  kept  up  a-ainst 
the  fortress  at  Chapultepec.     The  troops  stationed  at  Molino  del 
Eey  occupied  a  convenient  position  for  following  up  any  advanta^^e 
gained  by  the  operations  of  the  artillery,  and  by  them  the  assault 
was  commenced  on  the  morning  of  the  13th.    A  portion  of  the  divi- 
sions which  had  been  previously  threatening  the  southern  entrance 
to  the  city,  hastened  to  join  in  the  attack,  and  tlie  fortress  was 
stormed.    About  a  thousand  prisoners  were  taken,  and  the  fu^ritives 
were  driven  f.umultuously  within  the  walls  of  the  citv.     NoUvith- 
standing  the  rapid  concentration  of  troops  at  the  assaulted  quarter 
General  Quitman  forced  his  way  into  the  city  by  the  gate  of  Belen 
early  in  the  afternoon;  and  the  forces  under  Worth  gained  a  secure 
position  for  the  night  in  the  buildings  on  the  street  of  San  Cosm^ 
before  the  gate  of  that  name.  ' 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  intelligence  was  received,  by  a  com- 
munication from  the  civil  authorities,  that  the  capital  had  been  evac- 
uated during  the  night  by  the  army  and  the  officers  of  government 
Promptly  rejecting  all  proposals  for  capitulation,  General  Scott  im- 
mediately proceeded  to  the  military  occupation  of  the  city  Grrit 
diiriculty  was  at  first  experienced  in  subduing  the  canaille  of  the 
capital,  who  for  two  days  continued  to  fire  upon  the  Americans  from 


L 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  niSTORY   OF  MEXICO.  207 

places  of  concealment     A  great  number  of  infamous  wretches,  who 
had  been  turned  loose  from  the  prisons  on  the  night  of  the  evacuation 
were  the  prmcipal  actors  in  this  murderous  work 

Of  the  whole  force  with  which  General  Scott  left  Puebla,  amounting 
to  ess  than  eleven  thousand  men,  the  number  of  those  kil  ed  in  ba  uf 
before  the  complete  occupation  of  the  capital  is  set  down  at  thr  e 
hundred  and  eighty-three,  and  the  entire  loss,  in  killed,  wounded 
and  missmg,  at  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  three 

General  Quitman  was  appointed  governor  of  the  city,  and  the 
commander-m-chief  engaged  with  great  energy,  though    vith  pru- 
dence and  moderation,  in  the  necessary  laboi  of  eonfirmin.^  or 
estabhshmg  some  system  of  law  and  order.     Santa  Anna,  having 
summoned  acongress  to  meet  at  Querdtaro,  resigned  the  pr  sidencf 
to  the  chief  justice  Pena-y-Pefia,  and  with  a  strong  body  of  c.v Z 
pushed  on  to  Puebla  to  fall  upon  the  garrison  in  occupa'io    7Z 
city     He  was  there  joined  by  General  Pea,  with  sonie  three  thou 
sand  additional  troops.     The  little  band  of  the  besieged  suit    n,'l 
their  position  with  wonderful  firmness  and  success  Itil"      J 
by  the  arrival  of  General  Lane,  with  fresh  forces  from  Vera  C        ' 
This  officer  gained  a  complete  victory  over  each  division  of  the 
Mexican  army,  the  first,  under  Santa  Anna,  who  had  marched  east 
wanl  from  Puebla  to  oppose  his  advance,  and  the  second  under  Pea 
who  had  retreated  from  Puebla,  and  was  in  occupation  of  At  'x  o 
These  ,,re  the  last  important  engagements  of  the  war.     The  w"k 
of  reducing  or  aisbanding  the  bodies  of  banditti  who  still  mainta  n  d 
a  guerilla  warfare  was  successfully  accomplished  '"'^'^^'^^^^^ 

In  the  month  of  November  a  congress  was  assembled,  but  such 
^v  s  the  animosity  of  the  factions  represented,  that  no  impomnt 
action  was  taken.     Anaya  was  chosen  president  until   tZ     " 
nieeting  of  congress  which  was  to  take  place  in  the  ensuing  J  nu"v 

1  ena  y-1  ena,  now  ac  ing  as  his  minister,  opened  communiculH.n  with 
^1    American  commissioner  in  regard  to  the  arrangement  of  a  trel 
Although  he  had  already  received  notice  from  the  United  St'    i' 

s::;:;:::n^*r- ""^^^-^  ^^ --^---— 

At  ll,e  January  session  of  congress,  as  Hero  was  not  a  snmoienf 

zt:^:Z:" '"  'r  •"  ^"°"™'  '"^^^ """« be  „: :,« 


+],„,,.  „„,.  .,'  o  -^  "  ^^^"•■'HtiiLiunai  provision,  as; 

tlic  vacant,  presidency  as  chief  justice.     Commis.s[oncr,s  havi.i: 


jccn 


r 


208 


THE  I'EOrLK'S  BOOK  OP  HISTORY. 


appointed  by  the  Mexican  government,  a  meeting  was  arranged  with 
the  United  States'  envoy,  and  on  tlie  2d  of  February,  1848,  a  treaty 
was  signed  at  the  town  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  three  miles  to  the 
northward  of  tlie  city  of  Mexico. 

By  the  provisions  of  this  important  treaty,  which,  with  little  alter- 
ation, was  approved  and  ratified  by  the  United  States'  senate  in  the 
month  of  March  ensuing,  the  disputed  territory  between  the  Nueces 
and  Eio  Grande  was  relinquished   by  Mexico,  and  the  whole  of 
U]ii)cr  California  and  New  IMexico  was  ceded  to  the  United  States. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  exhausted  cofl'ers  of  the  conquered  nation 
were  to  be  replenished  by  the  payment  of  fifteen  millions  of  dollars 
vis  the  i>rice  of  ceded  territory;  Mexican  liabilities  for  the  private 
claims  of  American  citizens  were  to  be  assumed  to  the  amount  of 
three  millions  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars;  and  the  faith 
of  the  United  States  was  pledged  to  protect  the  northern  Mexican 
frontier  from  Indian  invasion.     On  the  last  of  lAfay  the  ratification 
of  this  treaty  by  the  Mexican  congress  left  the  belligerent  nations  at 
peace,  and  the  United  States'  troops  were  withdrawn  from  the  country. 
Perhaps  in  no  instance  in  the  history  of  the  world  has  a  victorious 
invading  army  remained  so  long  in  occupation  of  conquered  territorv 
without  proving  a  burden  to  the  inhabitanL^^.     'J'iirougliout   the 
campaign  the  provisions  for  the  army  were  mostly  {laid  for  at  fair 
prices,  and  the  only  contributions  drawn  from  the  resources  of  tlic 
defeated  nation,  with  the  exception  of  some  very  moderate  imi>osi- 
tions,  to  meet  particular  exigencies,  were  derived  fi'om  duties  upon 
goods  landed  at  the  sea-porls  in  our  possession.     These  duties  were 
moreover,  on  an  average,  less  in  amount  than  those  formerly  levied 
by  the  ^lexican  customs. 

The  ex-))resident  Santa  Anna  had,  upon  his  own  application,  pre- 
viously received  his  pa.ssports,  and  permission  from  the  Arexicau 
authorities  and  the  American  commander  to  leave  the  country.  Ho 
sailed  for  Jamaica  on  the  oth  of  the  preceding  month  of  April. 
General  Ilerrera  was  soon  after  elected  president  of  the  republic. 


1 


su: 

C] 

1 


E 
can 

oper 
exte 
detai 
perfc 
little 

U] 

■the  ] 

pend 

Gulf 

by  a 

sion. 

Calift 

depei 

such 

As 

assigr 

Leave 

Ilegf 

ance, 

able  I 

wildei 

been  i 


THE   CONQUEST  AND  HISTOKY   OF  MEXICO.  209 


CHAPTER   IX?. 

SUMMARY  OF  NATAL  OPERATIONS.— COLONEL  KEARNEY'S  PRO- 
CEEDINGS  IN   NEW  MEXICO.— EVENTS    IN    CALIFORNIA- 
UNION  OF   COLONEL   FREMONT  WITH   COMMODORE   STOCK- 
TON.—KEARNEY'S  ARRIVAL  AT  SAN  DIEGO.— CAMPAIGN 
OF    THE    COMBINED    FORCES.— DISPUTES    BETWEEN 
THE   AMERICAN   COMMA  NDERS.—COLONE  L    DONI- 
PHAN'S SERVICES.— MEXICO,   SINCE   THE  CON- 
CLUSION OF  PEACE  WITH  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
—  RETURN  OF  SANTA  ANNA,  —  DIFFICULTIES 
RELATING  TO  THE  MESILLA  VALLEY. 

Having  now  followed  out  the  more  important  events  of  the  Mexi- 
can campaign  to  the  close  of  the  war,  we  recur  briefly  to  tlie  military 
operations  in  the  more  remote  provinces.  The  field"  of  action  was  so 
extensive,  and  so  sparsely  populated,  that  the  adventures  of  the  little 
detachments  of  American  troops  by  which  tho.se  operations  were 
perfortned,  although  replete  with  interest,  had  for  the  most  part  too 
httle  bearing  upon  the  grand  result  to  require  minute  detail 

Upon  the  coast  our  navy  had  not  been  idle:  besides  its  share  in 
■the  reduction  of  the  imi)ortant  stronghold  at  Vera  Cruz  its  inde- 
pendent operation  resulted  in  the  seizure  of  every  port  'upon  the 
Gulf  of  sufficient  importance  to  justify  retention,  and,  in  the  Pacific 
by  a  strict  blockade,  trade  was  cut  off  with  those  not  in  our  posses- 
sion To  the  unfortunate  conflict  of  claims,  upon  the  occupation  of 
Cnhfornia  by  the  naval  and  miliary  forces  of  the  United  State- 
depending  upon  martial  technicalities,  and  in  the  discussion  of  which 
such  infinite  confusion  has  arisen,  we  can  barely  allude 

As  early  as  June,  1846,  Colonel  Kearney,  to  whom  was  first 
assigned  the  duty  of  invading  New  Mexico  and  California,  left  Fort 
Leavenworth,  with  sixteen  hundred  men,  en  route  for  Santa  Fe 
He  gained  possession  of  the  capital  of  New  Mexico  without  resist- 
ance, and  having  recruited  his  force  by  the  collection  of  a  consider- 
able body  of  emigrants,  commenced  his  march  through  the  western 
wilderness.  Receiving  intelligence  while  on  the  road  that  he  had 
been  anticipated  in  his  intended  military  operations,  he  ordered  the 

V^OL.  III. — 14 


210 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK    OF   HISTORY. 


return  of  the  principal  portion  of  his  command,  and  pushed  on  with 
a  small  mounted  company. 

That  hardy  pioneer  and  gallant  officer,  Captain  (since  Colonel)  J. 
C.  Fremont,  was  the  first  active  agent  in  the  reduction  of  California." 
In  conformity  with  private  orders  from  government,  received  in 
ifa}',  1846,  he  hastened  from  Oregon  for  the  Sacramento  valley. 
The  American  settlers  in  that  region  eagerly  lent  their  assistance  to 
the  overthrow  of  Mexican  authority.  Few  as  were  their  numbers, 
this  portion  of  the  community  made  open  declaration  of  indepeni' 
ence  of  Mexico,  early  in  July,  and  just  before  the  reception  of  the 
news  of  the  opening  campaign  in  Mexico.  The  revolutionary  char- 
acter of  the  movement  was  at  once  abandoned,  and  the  insurgents 
gladly  devoted  themselves  to  the  cause  of  their  parent-country. 

The  ports  of  San  Francisco  and  Monterey  having  been  occupied 
by  the  naval  forces  of  the  United  States,  under  command  of  Com- 
modore Stockton,  Fremont  joined  his  forces  with  those  of  that  officer 
for  the  purpose  of  an  attack  on  Los  Angelos.  The  Mexican  troops, 
under  Caatro,  abandoned  the  city,  which  was  occupied  without  a 
struggle,  on  the  13th  of  August.  In  the  following  month.  General 
Castro,  with  recruited  forces,  regained  possession. 

General  Kearney,  (he  had  been  raised  to  this  rank  on  receiving 
his  last  commission,)  with  his  little  band,  after  a  wearisome  and  dan- 
gerous march,  reached  San  Diego  towards  the  middle  of  December, 
having  lost  thirty-one  men  in  killed  and  wounded  at  San  Pascual,' 
where  his  progress  was  opposed  by  a  mounted  force  of  the  enemy! 
The  command  would  probably  have  been  entirely  cut  off  but  for 
relief  sent  out  from  San  Diego. 

General  Kearney  and  Commodore  Stockton,  after  some  discussion 
as  to  their  several  powers  and  appropriate  position  in  command, 
joined  forces,  and  took  up  their  line  of  march  northward.  At  the 
banks  of  the  river  San  Gabriel  they  encountered  and  defeated  the 
Mexicans  under  Flores.  That  commander  rallied  his  forces,  and 
made  a  second  stand  at  the  level  prairie  of  the  xMesa.  A  second  time 
compelled  to  retreat,  he  proceeded  to  the  plain  of  Couenga  to  oppose 
the  advance  of  Fremont.  A  parley  was  held  between  the  respective 
commanders,  and  the  Mexican  general  finally  agreed  upon  a  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities.  His  troops  were  to  deliver  up  their  arms,  and 
durmg  the  continuance  of  the  war,  to  submit  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
United  States.  The  occupation  of  Los  Angelos  was  resumed,  and 
California  remained  subject  to  the  American  government.     Colonel 


THE   CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  MEXICO.  211 

Fremont,  having  been  appointed  governor  by  Commodore  Stockton 
became  entangled  in  the-controversy  between  that  officer  and  Gen- 
eral Kearney  relative  to  their  respective  powers  and  duties  in  the 
occupation  and  government  of  the  conquered  territory.  His  loner 
and  wearisome  trial,  during  the  winter  of  1847-8,  "on  charcres  of 
mntiny,  disobedience,  and  conduct  to  the  prejudice  of  good°order 
and  military  discipline,"  notwithstanding  its  unfavourable  result 
appears  to  have  left  no  stain  upon  his  character,  nor  to  have  at  all 
diminished  his  deserved  popularity. 

At  New  Mexico,  subsequent  to  the  departure  of  General  Kearney 
one  of  the  first  objects  accomplished  was  the  reduction  of  the  Navahd 
Indians,  who  had  assumed  a  hostile  attitude.  This  service  was  per- 
formed by  Colonel  Doniphan,  in  command  of  a  body  of  mounted 
Missourians.  With  this  force  he  afterwards  made  his  way  to  Chi- 
huahua, and  having  forcibly  taken  possession  of  the  country,  contin- 
ued his  route  to  the  Rio  Grande.  This  march  has  been  not  inaptly 
compared,  from  its  exhibition  of  endurance,  and  the  skill  and  pru- 
dence with  which  it  was  conducted,  to  the  famous  "Eetreat  of  the 
Ten  Thousand." 

The  command  of  the  forces  remaining  in  New  Mexico  was  at  this 
period  committed  to  Colonel  Price,  upon  whose  energy  and  courage 
the  preservation  of  the  province  was  soon  to  depend.  A  formidable 
insurrection  broke  out  on  the  19th  of  January,  1847,  after  the 
departure  of  Doniphan,  which  was  not  quelle^  without  great  sacrifice 
of  life. 

The  foregoing  outline  of  the  principal  events  connected  with  the 
war  between  Mexico  and  the  United  States,  although  confined  to 
the  leading  incidents,  may  appear  to  have  occupied  an  undue  share 
of  our  attention,  when  compared  with  the  preceding  sketch  of  colo- 
nial history.     The  importance  of  the  results  of  this  war  already  wit- 
nessed, and  the  still  more  momentous  changes  to  which  it  may 
probably  lead,  justify  this  apparent  disproportion.     Who  can  over- 
estimate the  influence  upon  the  destinies  of  the  nations  of  either 
hemisphere  consequent  upon  the  extension  of  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
United  States  over  the  recent  wilderness  of  California?  or  who  can 
offer  a  probable  conjecture  as  to  how  long  the  immense  resources  of 
this  new  state  might  have  remained  undeveloped  under  the  weak 
government  of  Mexico,  occupied  only  by  a  scattered  population, 
born  and  bred  in  national  apathy  and  want  of  enterprise? 
Since  the  conclusion  of  peace  with  the  United  States  the  political 


212 


THE  PKOPLK'S   BOOK   OF   HISTOKY. 


history  of  tho  Mexicun  republic  presents  little  of  pcnnnnent  interest. 
No  stability  of  govcrnmeiit  1ms  been  yet  attained:  a  "Moxiean  rev- 
olution" has  beeome  a  by-word:  with  crippled  finances,  a  constant 
change  of  rulers,  unceasing  diHafVection  among  diilerent  factions  and 
provinces,  and  the  decline  of  every  source  of  national  i)ros])erity, 
unless  by  some  unforeseen  concurrence  of  events  her  prosiKicts  shall 
brighten,  she  must  continue  to  decline  until,  as  a  separate  state, 
blotted  from  tho  list  of  nations. 

The  strong  arm,  the  subtle  craft,  and  the  iron  will  of  Santa  Anna, 
have  recently  been  once  more  brought  into  requisition,  to  regulate 
and  guide  the  disturbed  affairs  of  the  republic.  If  the  same  "confi- 
dence could  be  reposed  in  his  good  faith  and  patrigtism,  as  in  his 
firmness  and  ability,  no  living  man  were  better  fitted  to  restore  his 
country's  languishing  prosperity.  He  has  commenced  his  administra- 
tion by  prompt  and  decided  measures  for  ensuring  his  own  suprem- 
acy; whether  his  foreign  policy,  particularly  in  intercourse  with  the 
United  States,  is  to  be  just  and  conciliatory,  remains  to  be  seen. 

A  new  disi)ute  has  arisen  upon  a  question  of  boundary  between 
this  country  and  Mexico,  which  threatens  to  breed  further  di/lieulty, 
unless  the  controversy  be  conducted  in  a  different  spirit  from  thiit 
at  first  evinced  by  the  governors  of  the  contending  provinces.  The 
tract  in  dispute  is  the  Mesilla  valley,  claimed  by  the  authorities  of 
New  Mexico  to  have  belonged  to  that  province,  and  to  have  been 
conseguently  included  in  the  district  ceded  to  the  United  States  at 
the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  although  by  an  erroneous  survey 
laid  down  as  part  of  tho  territory  of  the  adjoining  Mexican  state. 

The  movements  of  both  parties  may  perhaps  be  considered  rather 
precipitate,  in  a  matter  which  should  certainly  in  tho  first  instance 
be  made  the  subject  of  negotiation  between  the  respective  federal  gov- 
ernments. It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that  the  hasty  action  which 
led  to  an  armed  occupation  of  the  valley,  may  not  so  flir  blind  the 
minds  of  the  parties  in  interest  as  to  make  that  a  question  of  feeling 
which  should  be  one  of  right  and  policy;  and  that  such  action  may 
be  taken  in  the  premises  as  shall  avert  the  monstrous  folly  of  au 
appeal  to  arms. 


CONQUEST  AID  HISTOKY  OF  PERU. 


CHAPTEH   I. 


THE  CAPITAL  OP  THE  ISTHMUS  TRANSPER RED  TO  PANAMA  — 
ACCOUNT  OP   FRANCISCO  PIZARRO.— HIS   CONFEDERATES 
—HIS  FIRST   VOYAGE    IN   QUEST  OP   PERU.— 0  RIE  VOUS 
LOSS    AND    SUFFERING.  — HIS    RETURN.— THE     VOY- 
AGE   OF    ALMAORO.— EXTRAORDINARY   CONTRACT 
OP  PIZARRO,   ALMAGRO,  AND  LUUUE. 

The  daring  enterprise  and  indefatigable   exertions   of  Balboa 
stunulatod  by  the  rumour  of  golden  realms  on  the  Pacific,  south  of 
the    sthmu.s,  had  laid  open  the  way  to  those  regions  of  conjectured 
wealth  and  splendor.     The  grand  schemes  of  adventure  and  ambition 
winch  had  seemed  to  perish  with  him,  were,  after  a  brief  interval 
revved  by  one  fully  his  equal  in  genius,  courage,  and  endurance! 
and,  If  possib  e,  his  superior  in  fierceness,  in  rapine,  and  in  cruelty 
Francisco  1  izarro,  one  of  the  most  renowned  and  infamous  of 
niankmd,  was  born  at  Truxillo,  in  Estrainadura,  about  the  year  1471 
He  was  the  illegitimate  son  of  Gonzalo  Pixarro,  an  officer  of  the 
faiauus  Cordova,  and  at  his  birth,  by  a  piece  of  inhuman  abandon- 
ment, was  exposed  at  the  ehurcli-door  and  left  as  a  foundlin-      Nav 
It  .s  said  that  for  some  days  the  oidy  nourishment  he  received  i'^ 
denved  from  a  sow,  which,  in  default  of  a  more  fitting  nurse,  was 
provided  lor  his  sustenance.     He  was  bred  up  to  the  calling  of  a 
swineherd,  and  never  learned  to  read  or  write.     It  is  from  souls  of 
high  natural  genius,  degraded  in  youth  by  ignorance,  privation,  and 
unnatural  Ignominy,  that  great  criminals  are  most  aptly  made;  and 
the  candid  observer  will  bestow  a  portion  of  his  pity  on  the  forlorn 
circumstances  of  T>iz..rro's  youth,  and  a  portion  of  his  indignation 


214 


THE   PEOPLK'S   HOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


on  the  authors  of  those  circuin.staiiccs,  which  in  great  degree  made 
him  wliat  ho  was. 

At  ail  early  agQ  ho  ran  away  from  his  ignoble  charge,  and  niado 
liis  way  to  the  Now  World.  Only  occasional  glimjwos  are  caught 
of  his  career,  but  they  are  such  aa  reveal  sternness,  endurance,  and 
talent  for  command.  Wo  have  already  mentioned  that  he  accompa- 
nied Jialboa  and  afterwards  Aforalos  on  their  memorable  expeditions 
to  the  South  Soa^  and  that,  at  the  command  of  Podrarias,  lie  had 
arrested  the  former,  and  brought  him  to  Acla  for  execution.  Soon 
after,  the  governor  transferred  his  cai)ital  from  Darien,  on  tlio 
Atlantic  coa.st,  to  a  site  on  the  Pacific,  called  Panama,  some  distance 
eastward  from  the  present  city  of  that  name.  In  1521,  an  expedition 
had  been  dispatched  to  the  southward,  in  quest  of  the  region  of  gold 
but  it  proceeded  only  a  little  way  along  the  coast.  The  splendid 
achievements  and  wonderful  successes  of  Ctjrtea,  however,  sooii  gave 
a  fresh  impulse  to  adventure,  and  a  few  daring  men,  in  the  capital 
of  the  Isthmus,  resolved  on  reviving  the  neglected  enterprise  of 
Balboa. 

Of  these  the  foremost  was  Pizarro,  who,  after  a  life  of  great  vicis- 
situdos,  now,  at  the  age  of  fifty,  was  cultivating  a  little  estate  near 
Panama;  Diego  de  Almagro,  also  a  foundling  and  an  old  soldier  of 
fortune,  was  another;  and  Hernando  de  Luque,  a  priest,  of  an  enter- 
prising spirit,  and  provided  with  funds  by  a  wealthy  friend,  brought 
his  important  aid  to  the  project.     These  three  ob.scure  and  uninflu- 
ential  individuals,  after  several  conferences,  resolved  on  prosecuting 
an  enterprise,  the  magnitude  of  which,  contrasted  with  the  slender 
means  of  its  projectors,  sufficiently  evinces  their  boldness  and  energy 
of  purpose.     This  was  nothing  less  than  the  discovery  and  conquest 
of  that  golden  empire,  the  existence  of  which  had  first  been  indicated 
in  the  vague  rumours  of  the  Indiahs  of  Comagre,  and  which  had 
afterwards  occasionally  been  confirmed  by  authority  no  more  exact 
or  reliable.     Two  small  vessels  were  procured,  in  one  of  which 
Pizarro,  with  a  hundred  men,  in  the  middle  of  November,  1524,  set 
sail,  leaving  Almagro  to  follow  in  the  other,  aa  soon  as  it  could  be 
made  ready. 

Crossing  the  Gulf  of  San  Miguel,  and  following  the  coast,  he  first 
entered  the  river  Biru,  and  made  a  disastrous  attempt  at  exploring 
the  marshes,  of  which  the  country  ajjpeared  entirely  to  consist. 
Foiled  in  this  endeavour,  he  again  stood  southward,  during  the  rainy 
season,  through  a  succession  of  gales  and  thunder-storms,  which  well 


THK  OONCiUEST   AND  IIISTOKY  OF   I'ERU.  215 

nigli  sent  Lis  frail  bark  to  tho  bottom.  Tho  sl.oro  was  still  found 
to  coM«,st  of  vast  swamps  and  intricate  forests.  His  men,  worn  out 
an.)  half-hunished,  were  ehunorous  for  return,  but  tbcir  conunan.ler 
.efused  to  rel.n<iui.sh  his  project.  Landing,  with  a  portion  of  his 
force,  ho  dispatched  tho  vessel,  with  the  reuiainder,  homeward  to 
procure  .supplies.  ' 

Ilalfof  his  command  soon  perished  from  hunger  and  exjiosure 
and  the  rest  were  saved  only  by  a  scanty  supply  of  maize,  obtained 
from  an  Indian  village  in  the  interior.     Tho  vessel,  after  a  voyayo 
rendered  terr.ole  by  similar  .sulTering.s,  at  last  returned  with  supplies 
and  took  oft  tho  half-starvcd  wretches  who  still  survived.     At  their 
next  landing,  Pizarro  discovered  an  Indian  village,  deserted  by  tho 
alrighted  inhabitants,  in  which  he  found  considerable  gold,  and  saw 
the  unmistakable  evidences  of  cannibalism.     At  another  point  fiir- 
ther  on  which  he  called  Panta  (iuemada,  he  took  possession  'of  a 
fortified  vdlage,  deserted,  as  usual,  at  the  approach  of  the  strangers 
intending  to  despatch  the  vessel  to  Panama  Ibr  repairs.     But  a  furi- 
ous attack  of  the  Indians,  in  which  five  of  the  Spaniards  were  killed 
and  a  great  number  wounded,  rendered  the  plan  too  hazardous      All 
therefore,  went  on  board,  and  .set  sail  homeward-Pizarro  with  most 
of  his  company,  disembarking  a  little  before  reaching  the  town 

Almagro,  with  the  other  vessel,  and  with  sixty  or  seventy  addi- 
tional recruits,  after  great  delays,  hud  set  forth,  before  this  return 
and  coasting  southward,  had  touched  at  various  points,  wliore  by  the 
notching  of  trees,  he  perceived  the  late  visits  of  his  consort.  At 
Quemada  he  also  had  a  fight  with  the  Indian.s,  in  which  he  lost  an 
eye;  but  had  pushed  on,  making  several  landings,  and  seizin-  con- 
siderable gold,  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  San  Juan,  four  dcorees 
north  latitude.  The  appearances  of  civilization  increased,  and  fresh 
accounts  of  the  empire  in  the  south  continually  reached  him  Finding 
nothing  of  his  j>artner,  however,  he  turned  northward,  and  rejoined 
him  at  his  quarters  near  Panama.  Exultant  in  the  prospect  of  real- 
izing their  ambitious  project,  each  made  fresh  pledges  to  prosecute 
the  adventure  to  an  end. 

The  countenance  of  Pedrarias  had  been  secured,  at  the  outset  by 
admitting  him  to  a  share  of  the  anticipated  profits;  but,  thoucdAhe 
scheme  now  seemed  more  feasible  than  before,  he  obstinately  refused 
to  contribute  any  thing  in  aid  of  the  enterprise;  and  greedy  for 
pr.si.nt  gain,  relinquished  his  share  in  the  future  wealth  of  Peru 
on  receiving  a  boiid,  with  security,  for  the  pavment  nf  a  thousand 


216 


TlIK   I'KOl'LK'H   HOOK   Ob'   II  IS  TO  UV 


p>:^sos  (twolvo  thouaaiul  dolliirs).     This  iiuiubuH  romovcd,  "the  threo 
coiilodomtea  mot  at  Paiiainn,  ami  with  much  form  juui  .solemnity 
cxociitcil  that  momorablo  contract  for  the  spoliation  md  divinion  of 
tho  unknown  nmlm.s  and  treasures  of  the  soutli.     'In  the  Name  of 
the  most  Holy  'i'rinity,'  eon)men(!os  this  singular  document,  'Fatlicr 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  three  distinct  persons,  and  one  only  true  God' 
an,l  of  tho  most  Holy  Virgin,  our  l.ady,  wo  lorm  tliis  partnership.' 
Neither  VW.nrro  nor  Ahnagro  could  wHte,  and  their  names,  therefore 
were  subscribed  by  tho  haiuls  of  the  witnesses;   wiiilo,  tho  mtu'o 
strongly  to  bind  them  to  its  observance,  thoy  took  tjath   upon  a 
jnissal,  tracing  a  cross  thoroon,  in  tho  name  of  God  and  tho  Holy 
l^lvaugelists.     To  mako  all  sure,  tho  worthy  Father  Luquo  then 
administered  the  sacrament,  giving  each  a  portion  of  tho  consecrated 
wafer,  and  taking  tho  aamo  himself.     So  impressive  was  tho  scene 
that  the  bystanders  were  molted  to  tears;  but  all  these  ghostly  pre' 
cautions  for  amity  and  fair  play  eventually  proved  to  be  of  no  more 
value  than  is  usual  where  solemn  vows  and  lengthy  protestations  are 
used  to  cover  lurking  rivalry  and  distrust.     (March  lOth,  lo2().)"* 


CHAPTSB  IL 

S  K  0  0  X  1)   V  0  Y  A  (i  |.;  0  V  r  I  Z  A  1!  I!  0  A  N  D   A  I,  M  A  (i  I!  0 .  —  T  II  l^,  1 1!  S  I'  V  r  E II- 

INOS— FKKSII    l)lS(M)VKI!li:s,~.  UKTl'liN   0\'  A  1,  M  A  (li!0.  — Til  E 

KSLANIl  OF  (iAl.r.O— ItKSOI.niON  OV  I'IZAIiliO  AM.  TWKI.VK 

OTIli;iiS.— TIIKIl!   DISCOVVMiY  OP  I'M  li  l'.— ITS  Tl!  K  ASU  I!  KS  — 

I'IZAIiliO   lilM'AllIS  TO  SPAIN.  —  (JJiANT  OF  Till;  CliOWN. 

KETl'liN  OF   ri/.AliliO  UITII    HIS  IliiOTHliliS. THE 

T II I  u  I)  F  X  r  i:  11 1  r  i  o  n  r  o  r  !■:  li  r ,  —  ii  \  t  t  i,  f  a  t  f  v  x  a  . 

With  the  funds  furnislied  bv  Lnquo,  two  vessels  were  now  fitted 
ont  anew,  nnd  ellorts  were  made  to  enlist  adventurers  for  the  enter- 
pnse.  Some  diflieulty  was  experienced,  on  account  of  the  fatal  result 
ot  tlie  former  expedition;  but,  singular  to  state,  nearlv  all  the  Mir- 
vivors  again  enlisted,  resolved  to  see  it  to  an  end,  and" enough  more 
wore  at  hu^t  enrolled  to  make  up  the  number  of  an  hundred  and 
♦  Discovi'iLTs,  &i-.,  ol"  Aiiierica. 


le  tlireo 

'lemnity 
iHioii  of 
nrno  of 
'  Futlier, 

110  (u)(l, 

icrshij).' 
orofore, 
0  moro 
ujKin  a 
0  Uoly 
0  then 
ecratcd 
scene, 
■Ay  pro- 
o  more 
ODH  are 
Hi.)"* 


-T]IE 

1-  V  1{ 


(it  tod 
LMitor- 
result 
'  siir- 
more 
[  and 


THE        C  o   N   Q   „   E    „   o   „        ov       P   E   „   „. 

ASSASSINATED    JDNK    2f,,     ,541.  '^' 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  PERU.  217 

Sixty.     AVith  this  insignificant  force,  supplied  with  a  few  }:orses  and 
hre-arms,  the  two  adventurers,  each  in  uis  own  vessel,  again  se   saU 
from  Panama.     ^^  ,tlu3ut  touching  on  the  coast,  they  1  efd  theTr  way 
to  the  San  Juan,  where,  by  plunder  of  the  native  villages   tly 
obtained  a  considerable  quantity  of  gold.     With  this  spoil  ll'mTZ 
.as  dispatched  homeward  to  allure  fresh  recruits;  Piza  ro,  with  mrt 
of    ,s  force,  remained  on  shore;  and  Ruiz,  an  experienced  rH  t  p 
sued  discovery  southward.     That  voyager  found  the  shores  po  hi  Is 
and  well  cultivated,  and  gained  fresh  information  of  the  wealth  and 
splendour  o    Peru,  where  gold  and  silver,  he  was  told,  wle  Intv 
as  wood  in  the  royal  palaces.     Having  crossed  the  line,  and  ca.'ed 
from  an  Indian  hum  two  natives  of  th-^t  i-,-,,    i        .  i^ip^urea 

pret^rs,  he  returned  to  .he  etampleSr     ^    ""'  *"  """  "'  ""»'■ 
IWro,  during  his  absenee,  in  a  march  through  the  tangled  forests 
of  the  mtenor  had  lost  many  of  his  men  from  the  attiteks  of  tl  ! 

'*::;.r"^  e'  :r:,'irs-:rdTS"r  r"  f '-^ "  -^ 

con.e„ed  to  hury  ...emi^rtW^lt'-s/rraTotdT 
msurerable  annoyance  of  the  musquiloes.  Itevived  by, h™',  rn 
of  Iiu,z  and  Almagro,  (the  latter  with  eighty  reeruits  Ul  ev  ! 

iul  tempests,  approached  the  shores  of  Quito     Here  ,.  T,„ 

;r  t:^re^r:f  v^tierr '-[  ^-^  -- -• 

The  .soldiers,  dreading  starvation  in  this  desolate  scene    w 

-3;^?  sir ;  rir'-'-'t  °T-'  vt:s.::::ss!a::3 

Ihcir  friend,  d  T     "'""™'"''='-.  wntriyed  to  send  clandestinely  to 

inoe,  no.  only  „f„°id  !™  l^^te":;  Sle fo '' vL'::: 
but  sent  two  ve«9ols  ^^■n^.^r.  ^        ei-  "-^ihuinte  to  AJmagro 

malcontents  fntihiy'dit;?  l":„T4;;s  sSd'"  tI"^'  ""■'": 

""'  °™"''  '^'°"'  "-^l"--  -"•'  privation ;  but  rizarro,  encouraged 


218 


TlIK  I'EOl'LE'S  BOOK   OF  IIISTOKY. 


by  a  letter  from  his  associates  in  Panama,  pledging  speedy  assistance 
resolved  to  hold  out  to  the  last.  Drawing  a  lino  with  his  sword 
upon  the  sand,  he  addressed  the  men  in  a  lew  words  of  harsh  but 
elucpient  truth.  "Comrades  and  friends,"  he  said,  "this  side  is  that 
of  death,  of  toils,  of  famine,  of  nakedness,  of  storms  and  homeless- 
ness;  the  other  is  that  of  ejiae:  on  that  lies  Panama  and  its  poverty 
on  this  Peru  and  its  riches.  Let  each  man  choose  what  becomes  a 
good  Castilian."  Having  uttered  these  memorable  words,  he  stepped 
over  the  lino  to  the  southward,  and  was  followed  by  Euiz  and  twelve 
others— a  number  singularly  great,  considering  the  desperation  of 
the  n^^olve.  A  more  signal  instance  of  hardihood  or  perseverance 
is  hardly  to  be  found  in  history. 

After  the  departure  of  the  vessels,  the  little  band  of  resolute 
adventurers  who  remained,  passed  on  a  raft  to  the  distant  island  of 
Gorgona,  and  there,  for  seven  long  months,  suffering  great  extretni- 
ties,  and  sui)porting  their  spirits  with  frequent  and  regular  religious 
exercises,  watched  wearily  for  the  expected  sail  of  Almagro.  But 
the  latter  and  his  coniederate,  after  much  delay  and  using  everv 
exertion,  could  only  prevail  on  the  governor  to  allow  the  dispatch 
of  a  small  vessel  with  orders  to  bring  off  the  obstinate  adventurers 
wlu)  had  ronuiined.  But  on  its  arrival,  they  joyfully  embarked,  and 
under  the  pilotage  of  Ruiz,  at  once  steered  southward.  Crossing  tlio 
line,  at  the  end  of  twenty  days  they  entered  the  Gulf  of  Guayaquil 
and  behold  before  them  the  Peruvian  town  of  Tumbez,  backed  by 
the  Andes,  and  exhibiting  strong  tokens  of  wealth  and  population. 
The  Indians,  in  multitudes,  gathered  on  the  shore  to  behold  the 
stranger  ship,  and  numbers  soon  came  off'  in  their  balms  or  native 
boats,  bearing  oilerings  of  fruit  and  several  llamas,  an  animal  before 
unknown  to  Kuropoans. 

Among  these  visitoi's  was  a  Peruvian  noble,  to  whom  Pizarro,  by 
an  interpreter,  explained  that  he  was  come  to  claim  the  alle<'-iance 
of  the  country  in  behalf  of  his  master,  the  king  of  Spain,  and  to 
rescue  the  people  from  the  perdition  to  which  their  evil  spirits, 
which  they  called  gods,  were  conducting  them.  However  surprised 
at  this  impudent  announcement,  the  chief  preserved  an  attitude  of 
discreet  non-committal.  A  Greek  knight,  one  Pedro  de  Caudia, 
was  now  sent  ashore,  where  he  was  hospitably  received,  and  soon 
returned  to  astonish  his  companions  by  the  report  ol'  the  treasures  he 
had  beheld.  'J'he  Temjile  of  the  Sun,  to  which  he  had  been  conducted, 
was  covered,  he  said,  with  plates  of  gold  and  silver;  and  in  the  gar- 


THE  CONQUKST  AND  IlISTOEY   OF  PERU.  219 

dens  of  a  species  of  nunnery,  were  fruits  and  /lowers,  exquisitely 
represented  ,n  the  same  precious  metals.  Overwhelmed  with  joy 
at  these  weleome  tu hngs  the  Spaniards  weighed  anehor,  and  stood 
along  the  coast  to  eHect  fresh  discoveries. 

They  were  every  where  treated  with 'the  greatest  kindness  and 
attenfon  by  the  natives,  who,  from  their  fair  complexions  and  bril- 
liant armour,  gave  them  the  name  of  "Children  of  the  Sun  "-their 
own  most  venerated  deity.     Fresh  aceour.ts  of  the  great  Inca,  whose 
capital,  resplendent  w.th  gold,  was  said  to  lie  among  the  mountains 
and  fresh  evidcr.ces  of  wealth  and  civilization,  such  as  stone  house 
and  well-cultivated  fields,  continually  cheered  the  spirits  of  the 
adventurers,  and  convinced  thcni  that  they  had  arrived  at  last  at  the 
ong-sought  region.     After  cruising  to  the  ninth  degree  of  south  lati- 
tudc,  they  turned  northward,  and  bore  the  brilliant  tidings  to  Panama. 

face  of  these  splend,,!  omens  of  success,  absolutely  refused  his  coun- 
tenance to  any  new  expedition,  declaring  that  "he  did  not  mean  to 
deiHjpu  ate  his  own  province  to  people  New  Lands,  nor  to  cause  the 
death  of  any  more  people  than  had  been  killed  already;  for  a  show 
of  Sheep  (llamas)  Gold,  and  Silver,  which  had  been  brought  home  " 
t  was  therefore  resolved  by  the  confederates  that  Pizarrofhould  sail 
0  Spam  and  apply  in  person  to  the  crown  for  assistance  adequl 
0  he  eiiterprise.  Furnished  with  fifteen  hundred  duea^  to  aid  h  ! 
suit,  and  bearing  specimens  of  the  production,  of  Peru,  i^  the  s«m- 

Z  l.e,!S  ::u:r^  -'  '-'''-  ^-'-^  *^«  emperorCChanes  V, 
Illiterate  but  eloquent  by  nature,  he  related  his  story,  and  pleaded 
h.s  cause  with  extraordinary  effect.  The  sovereign,  f  is  sdd  w4 
n^oved  o  tears  by  the  recital,  and  his  interest  and  cupid  y  w"  o 
powerfully  awakened  by  the  sight  of  the  Peruvian  treas  re  nd  the 
p  ospec  0    grasping  the  unimaginable  wealth  of  that  distant  re'iln 

to    r;l:nd  :;tl  Tf""''/^''^'  ^^^^^^^^^^  recommeiidatL:; 
nl    1  .   r  "^''''  ^""^  accordingly,  after  a  year's  delay 

u    powe,,  of  discovery  and  conquest  in  a  vast  extend  of  countr; 

weie  granted  to     ,m,  with  the  ofilces  of  governor,  captain-generl^ 

htd  ?       ''T'"'"  ''''^'''''y'  "^  '^''''  ^^-'  vested  in  his 

f W  :.  fr  ^'•"°"  "^'  ^"'l"^  b-'=  acknowledged 
only  by  Hhght  appointments.  To  secure  the  possession  of  these 
cl.gnit.es  and  privileges,  howeve,  he  was  boun  .  .mn  ^[^2 


220 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HiaTOEY. 


time,  to  provide  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  with  them  to  sail 
for  Panama. 

"With  all  the  prestige  of  his  new  importance,  the  adventurer  betook 
him  to  his  native  place,  where  many  of  his  townsmen  were  found 
ready  to  embark  in  the  enterprise.  Among  these  were  four  of  his 
brothers,  of  whom  IlernaiKlo  alone  was  legitimate,  Gonzalo  and  Juan 
Pizarro  owning  the  same  parents  as  himself,  and  Francisco  de  Alcan- 
tara being  connected  with  him  only  by  the  mother.  All  were  men 
of  extraordinary  courage  and  resolution.  The  requisite  funds  were 
obtained  with  difficulty,  and  it  is  said  that  but  for  the  opportune 
assistance  of  Cortes,  with  whom,  as  we  have  seen,  Pizarro  became 
acquainted  at  Palos,  the  scheme  might  have  failed  altogether.  As 
it  was,  he  was  unable  fully  to  complete  his  stipulated  armament; 
and  in  January,  1530,  with  only  a  portion  of  the  required  force, 
hurriedly  put  to  sea,  and  sailed  for  Nombre  de  Dios. 

Alrnagro  and  Luque,  who  were  there  eagerly  awaiting  his  arrival, 
were  exceedingly  angered  and  disappointed  at  the  perfidious  conduct 
of  their  confederate;  but  he  promised  solemnly  that  all  the  terms  of 
the  compact  should  be  fulfilled;  and,  a  hollow  truce  being  thus 
patched  up,  all  betook  themselves  to  Panama. 

Yery  few  recruits  could  be  obtained  at  that  place,  and  early  in 
Januar}',  1531,  with  an  hundred  and  eighty-three  men  and  twenty- 
seven  horses,  in  three  vessels,  leaving  Almagro  to  gather  reinforce- 
ments, Pizarro  set  forth  to  effect  the  Conquest  of  Peru.  After  a 
voyage  of  thirteen  daj-s,  he  disembarked  at  the  Bay  of  St,  Matthew, 
a  little  north  of  the  equator,  and  with  most  of  his  men,  marched 
southward  along  the  shore,  accompanied  by  the  vessels.  At  an 
Indian  village  in  Coaque,  which  they  took  by  surprii^e,  these  ma- 
rauders got  a  great  booty  in  g-^ld  and  emeralds,  part  of  which  Pizarro 
sent  back  to  Panama,  as  a'l  allurement  for  recruits.  The  march 
proved  excessively  sever  -tlie  sun,  in  these  low  latitudes,  striking 
with  terrible  power  on  the  soldiers  cased  in  steel  armour,  or  half- 
smothered  in  their  thick  doublets  of  quilted  cotton.  Several  per- 
ished on  the  way,  and  the  remainder  were  much  relieved  by  the 
arrival  of  a  vessel  from  the  Isthmus,  containing  supplies  and  a  small 
reinforcement. 

Tiie  invading  force  finally  reached  the  Gulf  of  Guayaquil,  and 
passed  over  to  the  isle  of  Puna,  opposite  Tumbez,  where  it  encamped. 
The  people  of  that  city  came  over  in  a  friendly  wa\',  to  visit  them, 
but  the  islanders,  provoked  by  an  act  of  hostility,  gathering,  to  the 


THE  CONQUEST  AND   HISTOKY    OF  PEBU.  221 

number  of  several  thousands  atfnpl-P,l  fi,«  g       •  , 

a  .,..d„.con...a  «,H,  .He;  rtfp^tXt  IvX^/r 

arms— a  result  attributed  by  the  oietvof  tl.^  ni  .•    .'"'^*^'^^,^"^^  "'^e* 

e.„nhc™,.„,e.  Michael  wL^r:^:,^^^^^^^^ 

angel,o  ho*,  %h.n,g  i„  He  air  agai,„t  a  mul.itudnf  d  It 

rt»o  defeat  wa,  s.mu  taneou,  wiih  that  of  the  Indian,.    I„  honZ 

vo.  .hse,„ent,,  r„,ru  jaftre:e:ti„t'' rsirCfgr-r 

despite  their  losses,  the  islandpr*  «f;il  ^  ■  .  ■      ,       ,    "S"*^'-     ■^^"» 
and'the  Spaniards' hailed  ^fhj^'hTl^r^r^^^^^^^  T'''' 

under  Hernando  de  Soto,  the  future  inv.de   o    F.^i  ^^^^  i  "'"' 
erer  of  the  Mississippi.     Thus  stremtf  ^  IP  ^  ''"'^  '^"'°^- 

to  the  mainland,  and  pro  eed  at  on- 1  •    '       '"'  '"'^^'^  *^  '^^^^^ 
the  Conciuest  of  Peru  '"  ^''  ^'^''^"'^°  undertaking- 


CHAPTER   III. 


in  the  refinements  of  social^^^s  f:!^:;^ZZ  oA,rV"^' 
cans;  but  wide  dissimilarities  evi.hvl  h\  ,  '^  ^^''-'''■ 

-  traces  of  a  common     r.n^^^  ^^  "'^^-"«.  -^^ 

between  them,  have  been  diseo^-er'd  n  '  ""^  ^-'^rnunication 
given  1„  the  old  .Z^Z^  1  s^X"^' '' 'T"''"  '^ 
evinces  a  greater  de<.ree  of  o, "       ,  ''    repuhivo,    and 

tl^at  presented  of  the  ^ordiuLo  ■^^'"'^T''.  ""^^  ^"^'*"^*'  ^'^^^" 

is  true  that  by  the  i  "  h  l^fr  f  .T'  ""'"  ''"  ^^^-'^-"---  ^t 
no  room  was  left  for^n    tiV  fe'^ver,„nent  of  the  Ineas, 

of  individual  ;,>l;'7br^  'T'^'T  "^  '''  ^•'^  developmeni 

-r  the  general  U^L^nZt;^^!:  ^^^^  ^ 

-    "P'li  rmcnt.     Agrarian  laws 


— I 


222 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


liave  never  been  maintained  for  any  length  of  time,  except  in  Peru 
where  a  yearly  division  took  place  of  the  portion  of  the  soil  not 
reserved  for  the  use  of  tlie  church  and  the  government. 

The  perfection  and  exactitude  of  this  extraordinary  system,  con- 
sidering the  variety  of  races  and  the  vast  extent  of  territory  subject 
to  the  Peruvian  monarchs,  are  almost  incredible.     It  was  unques- 
tionably "the  most  perfect  specimen  of  a  'paternal  despotism'  which 
has  ever  been  presented  to  the  eye  of  the  world.     The  inca  was 
absolute,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  liis  vast  dominions  did  not  pos- 
sess the  shadow  of  a  right  or  law  apart  from  his  sovereign  will.     Nor 
was  this  portentous  assertion  of  authority  a  mere  instrument  of  terror 
produced  only  on  state  occasions,  to  overawe  the  refractory  or  min- 
ister to  the  caprice  of  the  sovereign.     It  formed  an  integral  and 
engrossing  portion  of  the  life  of  every  man,   woman,  and  child 
throughout  the  Peruvian  domains.     Industry,  food,  clothing,  shelter, 
domestic  relations,  amusements,  every  thing,  were  under  the  direct 
siijiervision  of  government.     No  one  was  allowed  to  be  idle.     No 
one  was  permitted  to  suffer  from  want.     Education,  marriage,  social 
intercourse,  wore  all  under  strict  regulation.     In  such  a  place  the 
subject  must  reside;  such  and  such  work,  at  stated  times,  he  must 
perform;  at  such  an  ago  he  must  take  a  certain  wife;  and  he  must 
bring  up  his  children  in  a  fixed  and  certain  manner.     'The  impera- 
tive spirit  of  despotism  would  not  allow  them  to  be  hiippy  or  miser- 
able in  any  way  but  that  established  by  l.iw.     The  power  of  free 
agency— the  inestimable  and  in-born  right  of  every  human  bcin<r— 
was  annihilated  in  Peru.'  ° 

"Despotism,  says  a  profound,  but  popular  writer,  may  be  borne 
but  the  intermeddling  of  a  royal  busy-body  is  too  much  for  human 
nature.  This  rule,  accurately  enough  applied  to  the  sprightlier  peo- 
ple of  Europe,  may  have  its  exceptions;  for,  strange  to  say,  among 
the  Peruvians,  this  apparently  vexatious  systen.  seems  to  have  imrhd 
ivell.  It  was  indeed  remarkably  accordant  with  the  gentle,  industri- 
ous, and  custom-loving  disposition  of  the  races  to  which  it  was 
applied,  and  few  more  pleasing  pictures  of  rural  quiet  and  tranquil- 
hty  exist,  than  those  which  are  given  of  this  people  under  its  prim- 
itive government."* 

The  curaca  or  governor  of  each  district  exercised  a  constaiit  per- 
sonal supervision  over  his  people,  making  periodical  reports  to  his 
superiors  of  the  most  minute  details  of  the  labours  accomplished,  and 
*  Discoverers,  &u.,  of  Amorica. 


THE  CONQUEST  ^NB   HISTORY  OF  PERU.  223 

of  the  agricultural  Vroductionq     Tim  no  •  i 

■oil  w.,8  iMTsuea  i„   l.e  fact  of  nataral      '     ?'"  °""'™"°"  "''  ""= 

want  of  rain,  which  nevor  flZo  i„     7         """^  ''■■"''■''"  f''™ 

for  .he  i.i.,a.io„  of  .„:  s:zv^rz::z:^ 

channc.  .lough  .ho  oZlTZi^-'^CiZZTT'': 
inaccessible  sidos  of  .he  mounliin.w.™  •  .'"""^'■P  ""J  'llniost 
wi.h  luxurious  crops  oTZTZT  Zu!'""^' ""  """'■'" 
pro<luc.ionsof.heeoun.ry.   SrS  1  „r2  '  '^""'°''-  ""^  °"'°' 

b,  .he  use  of  guano  f™  [he  coastcts  n':srb::ri::;i'r 

.h:«:rrrasT2i,rrc,:r"V  'i '°"''""'° 

nation  was  derived,  and  rhM,  1  jL  ,T    "*  °f  "f"'^  "'^  "'"•'° 
i     mal  food  used  in  Peru.    TTeeZ  nu.it  ^'""T  !"""'""  "''  "'"■ 
of  burden  I<now„  in  ,he  eoun  r    ™Z        7      ''  "'  ""'^  ^"""' 
I     .he  .ountoin,  where  .he;TaS;rd7„r2     7'.'°™°  r°"« 
care  of  their  keepers  and  secure  from  1,       ,"'°         f'  °"''''"'  "'= 
for  shearing.    Afappointed;™      "hcTw:' drii::  i    '"^  w" 
.he  fleece  was  secured,  and  a  portion  of  r^ll  rerlcdt r  r    T 
were  again  set  a.  liberty.    The  fleece  w„.  „      c  ,      ,^"'*™''  f""^  f"oJ. 
.he  people,  to  be  ™an„todt.rcTI    "t^'f/'''''"''"'"''  "™"= 
entire  disposition  of  this  valuable  ««^„l''-^      •  "■°'""''  """'  ""> 
regulated  by  govern  JLiiJr         ™ '■"''•"''""^  •>»' ^"-"'^ 

stored  in  extensive  cMp  ."  rpo^  h    J^  rjotT'T""'  "'''"''  ""' 
ties  of  provision  were  aeeunfuhte    in  ,h  "'""'"■'"'  I""""" 

.naehi„..r/a:d  t:,':  sr^''^^  wh'oi:7T'  "'•'  ^"■" 

ve.ed  b,  broad  and  eonvenientlgi:;:^:        ,  'r^-  - 


224 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTOBY. 


which  the  most  disheartening  obstacles  were  successfully  overcome. 
The  main  road  from  Quito  to  Cuzco,  and  thence  to  the  soutliern 
portions  of  the  kingdom,  was  led  along  the  mountain  ridges  for  a 
distance  estimated  at  not  much  less  than  tw«  thousand  miles.  It 
was  massively  built  of  stone,  or  hewn  out  from  the  native  rock,  and, 
although  only  about  twenty  feet  broad,  afforded  a  smooth  and  easy 
passage  between  the  great  cities,  for  foot-passengers  or  trains  of 
loaded  llamas.  The  highway  second  in  importance  was  conducted 
through  the  level  plains,  parallel  vath  the  sea-coast,  and  consisted  of 
an  embankment,  or  causeway,  lined,  where  the  soil  was  fruitful,  with 
ornamental  trees  and  shrubs. 

All  these  public  works,  as  well  as  the  massive  palaces  and  religious 
temjjles,  of  hewn  stone,  seem  the  more  marvellous  when  we  consider 
that  the  materials  were  wrought  without  any  iron  instrument,  as  the 
Peruvians,  like  the  Mexicans,  had  no  harder  tools  than  those  manu- 
factured from  an  alloy  of  copper  and  tin. 

It  may  be  readily  perceived  what  immense  facilities  were  afforded 
for  military  opei'ations  by  these  roads,  and  by  the  granaries  which 
were  built  and  stored  at  regular  intervals  throughout  the  routes.  The 
government  pursued  a  warlike  policy  towards  neighbouring  nations, 
and  the  successes  of  the  Peruvian  armies  resulted  in  vast  additions 
to  the  empire.  Wlien  a  province  was  subdued,  the  first  steps  taken 
were  to  introduce  the  national  worship  of  the  Sun,  to  establish  the 
laws  of  Peru,  giving  to  the  conquered  people  equal  privileges  with 
their  conquerors,  and  to  introduce  colonies  of  Peruvians  into  the 
new  country,  by  whose  association  and  example  the  natives  mifrlit 
the  sooner  perceive  the  advantages  of  quietly  submitting  to  the  des- 
potic but  paternal  care  of  the  inca.  The  native  nobies  and  governors 
were  often  continued  in  oflice,  and  conciliated  by  favours  and  lion- 
ours,  and  a  decent  respect  was  })aid  to  the  religious  belief  and  pop- 
ular usages  of  the  newly-acquired  territory. 

In  the  conduct  of  the  complicated  machinery  of  government,  ref- 
ularity  and  precision  were  maintained  by  a  sj)ecics  of  record,  crude 
indeed,  as  compared  with  a  written  language,  but  ingenious,  and 
well  adapted  to  secure  accuracy  in  numerical  computations.  This 
was  the  "quipu,"  which  consisted  simply  of  a  series  of  Variously 
coloured  threads,  attached  at  regular  intervals  to  a  cord.  Knots  tied 
in  these  threads,  according  to  a  certain  prescribed  order,  sup])lied  all 
the  requisite  means  for  registering  the  pojnilation  of  the  country,  the 
births,  deaths,  and  marriages,  the  public  resources,  the  revenue,  and 


TIIKC0NQUK8T  AND  HISTORY   OF  PERU 
oven  a  clironological  liistory  of  the  emi)iro      Ar^ 

ti.o,c  vc.,,„j  in  .,,„  an,,„^vi„:„  r:;2™r,r'«'"''«p' 

cultivable  lands  was  sequestered  Jthe  u  o  ot  th"/  f    ,"' "" 
ample  revenue  was  furnislied  for  ti«  *  "^   '=''"''°^''   '''' 

of  Ihe  most  magnifieerelt  td  Th"  "'"  '"'  ^'"^"'"^"* 
priesthood.  Chief  amon^  thishor  ^  T^'^"''  "^  ^  ""^«''°»« 
Leendants  from  tlTr  yal  lei  ^st^^^^^  '"  V '^'  "^"^^'^  ^' 
ciated  personal,,  on  grei  aTd  t  lte""„f"-'^'  ^'l^  ««^- 
objects  of  adoration  were  the  sun  and  thT«  i-  '  ^"""'P''^^ 
stars;  but  we  are  told  that  beti  Z'tl         ^^^  ^^^o^dmate  moon  and 

and  ;„perior  to  t'em  a^  tt  GoV^^^^^^^^^^ 

invisible  ereator  of  all  d;i  "      i\lt7T  ""''  "'°^^'  "'  ''^' 

ancient  date,  standing  in  rXLart/'^  V-""'''  *^"P'^'  «^ 
devoted ;  but  for  various  reaso.^l  1      ;       P''''"*  '"^  °^  ^""«'  >^a« 
orthe  religion  of ri^Jt^^^  :^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
a  theology  more  ancient  than  the  date  of  thlTr  o  '"''"■l"' "^ 

writers  give  minute  and  tedious  deser  nt  on  r  P  "^"''''-  ^""'^^ 
rites  and  ceremonies,  details  ^^TL^^rZTJlT' 
ineamng  and  origin  are  no  longer  to  b!  asee"      ed'  ""  '"*  ^'^" 

The  national  traditions  concerning  ihf^  nnn. 
gress  of  civilization  in  Peru  throwTiftl!  l  Z  "'''''^''''  "^'^  P^^ 
tion.  The  mythoWical  7ol.nT  p  .  ^^  '  ''P^"  "^"^'^^'^  «P««»la- 
Capac.  a  chil'd  ofX  L^S;:  tifT  '' ''^  T"^^  ^^"- 
Uuaco,  was  said  to  have  f  m  Sted  T  e  .  '"'"  .^^"'  ^^"^ 
and  taught  the  arts  of  a^ricritre  and  1       f    f  '^  «>-"i-^tion, 

inl-abitunts  of  the  vale  oTcuzco     T  "''''f'''^'''  '^  the  barbarous 

«toclcasd,stinctasrol  iblewlha  "oftrr  '""7^  ^'^  ^^^^^ 
in  later  times,  always  married  1.1;  *^^",  f  "^'"^"'''Ity,  the  inca, 

..on  was  stritly  P^^St^Ln  ^^^^or  ::nr"^^"^^^ 
Yupunqui,  father  to IZv!     r      '"''  7'*^  '^'^  '^'^n  of  Topa  Inca 

ti- of\;  first  spi:i:r;^^^^^^^^^        ^^--  -  the 

America.     Under  these  t.wn  w^j  ,^'  ZlJl  T  t""  '°'''^*  "^  ^^^^^ 

warlike  monarchs  the  Peruvian  territorv 


III. 


-Jo 


228 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OK  HISTOKY. 


wns  extended  from  i\w.  country  of  tlio  unconquerftblo  Araucanians 
in  southern  Chili,  to  the  nortliern  confines  of  modern  Kquador.  The 
latter  province  was  subdued  by  lluayna  Capac,  who  established 
himself  at  Quito,  its  ancient  capital,  and  formed  a  connection  with 
the  daughter  of  its  last  native  prince.  He  died  about  a  year  after 
the  first  expedition  of  Pizarro,  and  by  tlie  regular  laws  of  descent 
his  whole  dominions  should  have  passed  to  his  legitimate  son,  Iluas- 
car.  '  Atahuallpa,  his  son  by  the  princess  of  Quito,  possessed,  how- 
ever, so  strong  a  hold  upon  his  affections,  that  he  had  determined  to 
bestow  upon  him  that  portion  which  had  belonged  to  his  maternal 
ancestors. 

The  two  princes  commenced  their  reigns  with  favourable  auspices 
for  long-continued  peace,  but,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  mutual 
jealousies  and  encroachments  involved  the  country  in  a  fierce  civil 
war.  Atahuallpa  marched  for  the  ancient  capital  of  tlie  incas,  deter- 
mined, if  possible,  to  dethrone  his  brother,  and  constitute  himself  solo 
monarch  of  the  Peruvian  empire.  At  Ambato,  near  the  great  moun- 
tain Chimborazo,  only  sixty  miles  from  Quito,  he  was  encountered 
by  the  forces  of  Iluascar,  and  a  severe  engagement  ensued.  Atahu- 
allpa was  completely  successful,  and  having  annihilated  his  oppo- 
nents, pressed  on  to  the  southward,  wreaking  terrible  vengeance  on 
the  revolted  province  of  Cafiaris. 

Another  great  and  decisive  battle  was  fought  in  the  vicinity  of 
Cuzco,  and  the  unfortunate  Iluascar  found  himself  stripped  of  his 
kingdom,  and  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  his  rival.  The  successful 
invader  established  himself  in  the  village  of  Caxamalca,  the  modern 
Caxamarca,  where  he  still  held  his  court  when  Pizarro  landed  on  the 
Peruvian  coast.  Although  he  had  no  open  opponent  to  his  schemes 
of  aggrandizement,  the  whole  country  was  necessarily  in  an  unsettled 
state,  and  he  was  in  no  condition  to  make  a  successful  defence  against 
the  handful  of  fierce  and  warlike  adventurers  who  came  to  lay  waste 
his  territory,  and  deprive  him  of  power,  liberty,  and  life. 

The  remainder  of  the  native  history  of  Peru  is  but  a  mournful  detail 
of  the  effects  of  foreign  oppression,  cruelty,  and  avarice.  On  several 
occasions  the  miserable  aborigines,  reduced  and  degraded  as  tliey 
were  by  ages  of  cruelty  and  oppression,  rose  against  their  enslavers, 
and  fought  for  their  liberty  with  all  the  courage  of  desperation.  As 
late  as  the  year  1781,  one  Jose  Gabriel  Condorcanqui,  a  lineal 
descendant  of  the  old  line  of  incas,  headed  a  formidable  insurrection 
against  the  Spanish  authorities.     The  numbers  of  both  races  who 


TIIKCONQirKST   AND  HISTORY  OK  PERU.  227 

perished  in  this  civil  wiir  bpfnrfl  flm  ,.«^.,  »•        „  , 

ally    „„w„  „,  Tupac  A™.,,  .h„  ,^.„,„t  ;  h  «   "1  r'T' 
wa.  ,i„„,l,  ukcn  prisoner,  and  w„  puu'icl,  ,„  Sd  1'^  ,7''^' 


CHAPTER   I?. 


P  U  A  R  R  0    L  A  N  D  8   A  T    T  r  w  u  D  ■/ 

».S»F»  THE  AM.S^Zr^;"  "";"»""«  '"*- 


HISHE8BRVE.— STUKNOTH  OP  THE 


PERUVIANS. 


A  P»rt,of  I„i„.    ave  ,;;l::V„       :  :e;wt:tt'"°''"''°'• 
r«l,imated,  it  is  said,  by  a  note  writi™  nlT      ,  P°"  '""■" 

oo.n^...at  it  eoL.  re\r  a^^r  r  t::Let  i^ ^^^^^ 

ated  by  gentle  treatment  i  f        ^^''  '^^"^"^  ^«  ^""'''ili- 

wasm'd?i:th  n^  proclarnation,  at  every  village, 

the  emperor  and  the  pon^  ^'^^^^^^^^^^  '""^  eccles,,.st,cal  supremacy  of 
ing  a  word  of  the  rnvX^l  "    '?''  *^^""°'^  ""*  comprehend- 

consent,  werfdulyeZ     d^^^^^^^^  their  silence  being  held  for 

leagues  south  of  Tumb  .5  ^  "Tj  "'  "'^"^  ^'  ^P'^'"'  Tln'rty 
of  his  vow  San  Mirelnnl  T  'V'^'  "''^'"^^'  ^"  ^"^^^"^^"t 
region,  distritlS  I  'n^tr s^:f ,  "^'T  ''  '^  '^"^"^"'"°^ 
assigned  was.  "that  it  wouTd  rfdtndr  H  '%  n^^'  ^""°" 

-  of  the  natives  themselve^"       /  '"  *'  "';['?;'  ^°''  f  "^^^ 
tain  the  settlers,  and  that  tl.o  Pi,.-  r  ■  ,        '        '^^  ""°^*  «"^- 

our  Holy  Faith"    Con!;  ilnir',""'"'''  'ndoctrinate  them  in 

the  troops.  Srro  ':  i^Uhff  to  '1  f  ,^-"  -^^'-^  ^y 
1   i.uaaea  them  to  send  back  to  Panama,  as  a 


228 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTOBT. 


means  of  enticing  fresh  volunteers  to  share  the  arduous  enterprise 
in  which  they  were  engaged. 

In  this  marcli  lie  had  learned  much  of  the  state  of  the  country, 
and  the  reports  of  its  wealth  had  been  confirmed  beyond  all  reason- 
able doubt.  He  now  resolved  to  set  forth  on  a  visit  to  the  Inca 
Atahuallpa,  probably  with  no  definite  ideas  of  immediate  conquest, 
but  from  eager  desire  to  behold  the  extraordinary  state  and  riches, 
with  glimpses  of  which  his  imagination  had  been  so  long- inflamed. 
Leaving  a  small  garrison  at  San  Miguel,  on  the  24th  of  September, 
with  the  Vemoinder  of  his  little  army,  he  set  forth  in  quest  of  the 
distant  and  unknown  capital  of  the  Peruvian  monarch.  After  a 
march  of  five  days  through  a  most  beautiful  country,  cultivated  with 
the  perfection  of  agricultural  skill,  he  halted,  and  with  politic  bold- 
ness, invited  all  who  were  averse  to  the  expedition  to  return.  Only 
nine  accepted  the  offer,  and  the  rest,  by  declining  it,  were  irrevoca- 
bly pledged  to  prosecute  the  adventure.  With  an  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  men,  a  third  of  whom  were  cavalry,  he  continued  his  march 
to  the  mountains. 

At  a  place  called  Zaran,  he  halted  for  a  week,  and  dispatched  De 
Soto  to  a  Peruvian  military  post,  further  on.  That  officer,  on  his 
return,  was  accompanied  by  an  emissary  from  the  inca  himself,  bear- 
ing presents  for  the  Spanish  general,  and  a  friendly  message,  inviting 
him  to  court.  By  the  aid  of  interpreters  much  civility  was  exchanged, 
and  a  courteous  answer  Avas  dispatched  to  the  Peruvian  court.  A 
few  days'  march  brought  the  Spaniards  to  the  foot  of  the  Andes, 
behind  which,  at  the  town  of  Caxamalca,  they  were  informed,  Ata- 
huallpa, with  his  army,  lay  encamped. 

An  easy  and  level  road,  leading  to  Cuzco,  the  Indian  capital,  con- 
trasted with  the  terrors  of  the  ascent,  and  the  dangers  which  might 
lie  beyond,  caused  many  of  the  soldiers  to  waver  in  their  resolution; 
but  Pizarro,  with  his  customary  eloquence,  urged  them  on,  entreat- 
ing that  they  would  not  expose  themselves  to  the  contempt  of  tlie 
inca  by  drawing  back,  and  assuring  them  that  the  Lord  would  ever 
be  found  fighting  on  their  side.  The  march  up  the  mountain  proved 
toilsome  and  dangerous  in  the  extreme,  the  cavaliers  being  compelled 
to  lead  their  horses  along  frightful  ledges  and  precipices,  where  a 
single  mis-step  would  prove  destruction;  and  where  a  few  resolute 
men  might  have  withstood  their  march  altogether.  They  also  suffered 
greatly  from  cold.  At  night  they  lodged  in  a  strong  fortress  of  stone, 
and  at  day  break  resumed  the  march.     A  friendly  embassv  from  the 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  IIISTOKY  OF  PERU.  229 

inca,  bearing  presents,  met  them  on  the  wav  nn.l  oft 
march  of  seven  days,  deseending  with  dSltv  1         '    "'•'°'"' 
thej  came  in  view  of  CaxamaJca  ^        '"^'='^  ''''''^> 

That  citj,  inhabited  bv  a  refinprl  on^  ,-v,/i     ^  • 

ams;  and  at  the  hot  ba^hs  a  lea-np  ri;=fo  V  ^        -^  ™°''''*- 

•  1  .     ""'"^  'i  league  distant,  was  encamnnd  th^  ;„ 

penal  armv,  covering  the  hill.^ifU.=  fx.     -i        '*.='  ^''^'impcU  the  im- 

cotton,    /'feeling  Icltyt^^'XZ,^  '"T  °V"°"^ 
visilois.     "So  many  did  thev  »„n!!,  »  ™  "'^  audaciona 

ecrtain  we  were  fllfed  wi  h  dreT for  T^T  "'  "'?'  ""'"'  '"' 
tlie  Indians  eould  have  held  ^  n      /  """"  "^"""^"■^  """ 

pitched  with  such  skill  rt.e  hS  where  f  """'  "^  ""  """^  '""''■ 
the  Indies,  and  ca.sed  in  all  it  Sm  1"""  """"'  '"=''°"=  '=""  '" 
howbeit,  it  would  neve"  have  dte  to  ,1*"^"' '■"".'""'' '=°''f"™"-- 
recoil,  for  if  „„y  sim  of  weT        I   ^  "•  °'  '"  "«"  '«"■■"  '» 

-cdintfthevalleXt^^^^ 

The  town  was  deserted,  and  Piznrrn  fnH^,  i  • 

great  square,  dispatched  lis  brot  ^11;  fjl^  '"  ^'^^ 

few  of  the  cavalry,  to  the  camn  nf  tl      r  '  '''"'  ^'  ^^'-^  ^"^^  « 

lightsummer-ho'e,  .t  tL  bad.  t  ::  Tn  '-^  ''^  ^""^^  '^^  ^ 
low  cushion,  surrou'nded  by  1  s  l^s  T  f  ""''  "^^1  °"  ^ 
he  w^re  on  his  forehead  tl.Lrimson  L«"  f  '  ?'  ""^^^^'  ^"' 
imperial  dignity.  Uls  demc^  rCltr/; 'el^^^^  r""^^'"  '' 
even  apathy.     Without  dismounti^  t  I  V         .  ""'''  ""^ 

native  interpreter  named  Fe lin  .V  ^7t  '"'''''^'•^'  ^^  '^^ 
included  aciunts  of  tUgr^r^^^  ^"^^"^'   "^'^^ 

of  instruction  in  the  Foith  Tnd    L  /        ^7    ™""''''^'  P^°^^^''« 

Spanish  camp     One  of     ^  nit  1  ^^"'''.  °^  '"  ''"^'''^  ^'^^^  ^^  ^he       , 

1      11  '  ^"^  "^"^^s  answered,  "it  is  wpll-"  K„f  A* 

iHialipa  preserved  an  appearance  of  entire  a  ntl  v  .n  1     '  "       ■' 

ne.«  till  Hernando  entreated  a  persorn    ren  v    U  u»conscu,us- 

Bmile,  he  turned  his  head,  and  !Z^  "Til"'  "'^^  '  f'''' 
keeping  a  fast,  <vhich  wil   last  fU^T'  ^     '  '"^-'*""  ^  ^"^ 

VKsit  hmi,  witl  CO  tan  "v  ''" /""^"J^- "^°''"i"g;  I -ill  then 
the  pubh-  bnihl,  "  /  '  "^'''-  ^f«'™^vl"l«.  let  him  occupy 
he  snol-o  IioT       T      ,       ''!""'■'''  ""^  "^^"«  "ther,  till  I  come  "     is 

plain,  aisph.yi,X  Z  r^X    1  ^^.^-'^^^  !-'|^>'  --  the 
-     -        ,    w.r  uui  speed  of  his  animal.     Returning  in 


230 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF   HlSTUliY. 


full  career,  he  reined  the  impatient  charger  short  upon  his  haunches, 
so  near  the  person  of  the  inca,  that  the  foam  from  his  mouth  lighted 
on  the  imperial  garments;  but  Atahuallpa  still  preserved  a  demean- 
our of  calm  and  almost  unconscious  apathy.  Returning,  the  emissa- 
ries dismayed  their  companions  with  an  account  of  the  power  and 
state  of  the  inca,  and  the  formidable  number  of  his  army — an  alarm- 
ing report,  fully  confirmed  at  night  by  the  sight  of  iunilmerable 
watch-fires  in  the  camp  of  the  Peruvians. 


CHAPTER?. 

CRUEL  AND  AUDACIOUS  SCHEME  OF  PIZARRO. — THE  VISIT  OF 
THE   INCA. SCENE   AVITH   THE   FRIAR   VALVERDE. TER- 
RIBLE    MASSACRE    OF    THE    PERUVIANS. — SEIZURE    OF 
THE    INCA.  —  HIS     FORTITUDE.  —  PLUNDER    OF     THE 
CITY  AND  CAMP.  —  EXTRAORDINARY  OFFER  OF  RAN- 
SOM.—  THE  MURDER  OF  HUASCAR. 


Whether  Pizarro  had  undertaken  his  march  with  any  definite 
purpose  of  violence  or  attempted  conquest,  it  is  not  easy  to  conjec- 
ture; but,  his  followers  once  placed  in  a  position  whence  there  could 
be  no  retreat,  he  resolved  on  a  course  the  most  audacious,  perfidiou.s 
and  perhaps  hazardous  that  could  be  conceived.  This  was  notliin-^ 
less  than  to  follow  the  daring  example  of  Cortes  in  that  conquest 
which  doubtless  seemed  a  model  to  all  adventurers  of  his  day— to 
seize  the  person  of  the  inca,  and  thus  at  once  to  secure  the  obedi- 
ence of  his  realms.  He  neglected  nothing  which  could  animate  the 
courage,  rai)acity  and  fanaticism  of  his  soldiers;  and  the  chaplains 
of  the  expedition,  well  knowing  the  fearfully  hazardous  nature  of 
the  attempt,  spent  the  whole  night  in  "discipline"  (self-llngellation,  it 
would  seem),  in  weeping,  and  in  prayer  "tliat  God  wouldliward  due 
success  to  his  most  sacred  service,  the  exaltation  of  the  faith,  and  the 
salvation  of  .such  a  number  of  .souls!" 

Pizarro  then  made  his  f)rce  "a  right  Christian  har/mgne,"  and  all 
rai.sed  their  voices  in  the  solemn  chant,  "Arise,  oh  Lord,  and  judge 
thy  cause!"  "One  might  have  suppo.sed  them,"  .siys  Mr.  ProscoU, 
"a  company  of  martyrs,  about  to  lay  down  their  lives  in  defence  of 


THE    CONQUEST  AND   IIISTOEY   OF  PERU.  231 

their  fuith,  instead  of  a  licentious  band  of  adventurers,  meditating 
one  of  the  most  atrocious  acts  of  perfidy  on  the  record  of  history!" 
These  pious  prehminaries  adjusted,  Pizarro  posted  them,  sword  in 
hand,  m  the  numerous  halls  and  passages  opening  into  the  square 
with  orders,  at  the  discharge  of  a  musket,  to  rush  forth,  and  make 
an  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  the  Peruvian  nobles. 

All  day  these  fierce  and  cruel  men,  in  a  fever  of  impatience,  re- 
mained on  their  arms-for  the  inca  did  not  take  up  his  march  till 
noon,  and  the  cumbrous  pomp  of  the  imperial  progress  delayed  his 
journey  so  long  that  he  proposed  to  defer  his  entrance  until  niornincr 
15ut  an  artful  message  from  Pizarro  induced  him  to  proceed  and 
surrounded  by  an  immense  crowd  of  nobles,  resplendent  with  golden 
ornaments,  he  approached  the  city.  At  the  gate-way,  as  a  token  of 
good  faith,  he  ordered  all  his  attendants  to  lay  aside  their  arms 

"A  little  before  sunset,  he  entered  the  great  square,  borne  on  a 
si)Ieiidid  throne  of  massive  gold,  overshadowed  with  the  plumes  of 
the  guy  birds  of  the  tropics.     Before  him  went  four  hundred  menials 
clearing  the  way,  and  singing  their  national  chants,  'which  in  our 
ears,'  says  one  of  the  Spaniards,  'sounded  like  the  Songs  of  Hell ' 
Prom  liis  lofty  position,  the  inca  calmly  surveyed  the  multitude  of 
his  followers,  who  formed  around  him  in  courtly  order      When 
about  six  thousand  of  them  had  entered  the  square,  he  looked  around 
itiquinngly,  and  said,  '  Where  are  the  strangers?'     At  this  word  came 
forward  the  reverend  Father  Valverde,  Pizarro's  chaplain,  with  a 
crucifix  in  one  hand  and  a  breviary  in  the  other,  and  made  a  Ion- 
harangue,  commencing  with  the  Creation,  and  thence  proceeding 
through  the  fall  of  Adam,  the  incarnation,  crucifixion,  and  resurrec- 
tion, the  appointment  of  St.  Peter  as  God's  vicar  on  earth,  the  apos- 
tolical succession  of  Popes,  the  bull  in  favor  of  Castile,  and  endin- 
logically  with  a  formal  demand  that  the  inca  should  submit  his  spir° 
itual  guidance  to  the  Pope,  and  his  temporal  allegiance  to  the  kin- 
of  Spain.     All  this  was  duly  translated  by  the  interpreter,  Felipillo" 
who,  by  way  of  expounding  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  explained 
to  his  royal  auditor  that  'The  Christians  had  Three  Gods  and  One 
God,  making  Four  in  all.' 

'"To  the  which  words,'  says  a  bystander,  'and  much  besides  that 
the  Reverend  Father  said,  he  remained  silenc  without  returning  a 
reply.  He  then  said  lie  would  see  what  God  had  commanded"  as 
he  was  told,  m  the  book;  so  he  took  the  book  and  opened  it,  and 
looked  It  over,  examining  the  form  and  arrangement.'     lie  next  held 


232 


THE   PEOrLE'S  BOOK  OF  IIISTOKY. 


it  to  his  ear,  nnd  saying  contemptuously  'this  tells  ine  nothing,'  flung 
it  angrily  away.     'I'hen,  with  a  couutenanee  flushed  with  emotion, 
he  made  answer  to  sueh  portions  of  the  address  as  he  had  been  able 
to  com{)rehend.     lie  would  be  no  man's  tributary,  he  said;  and  as 
for  the  great  j^riost  beyond  the  waters,  he  must  be  nu\d  to  talk  of 
giving  away  countries  whieh  he  had  never  seen.     Nor  would  he 
change  his  faith.     The  God  of  the  Christians,  according  to  their  own 
account,  had  been  slain  by  his  own  creatures,  but  the  eternal  Sun,  the 
great  Deity  of  Peru,  still  shone  on  his  glorious  and  beneficent  course 
through  the  firmament.     Excited  by  the  insults  he  had  received,  he 
declared  that  the  Spaniards  should  render  a  strict  account  of  their 
doings  in  his  territories.     The  di.scomlited  friar,  seeing  the  ill  suc- 
cess of  his  eloquence,  picked  up  the  book,  bowed  his  head,  and  hivs- 
tencd  to  Piziirro.     'Did  you  see  what  passed?'  he  cried— 'while  we 
waste  time  in  fooleries  and  arguments  v/ith  this  dog,  full  of  pride 
the  square  is  fdling  with  Indians.     Set  on  them  at  once!  I  absolve 
you.'     The  fatal  gun,  the  signal  of  slaughter,  was  fired,  and  the 
S[)aniards.  horse  and  foot,  rushed  furiously  irom  their  lurking-places. 
'J'akcn  by  surprise,  utterly  unarmed,  and  bewildered  by  the  unwonted 
discharge  of  artillery  and  fire-arms,  the  unliaj)py  victims  were  slauidi- 
terod  without  the  slightest  means  of  resistance.     The  nobles,  with 
afiecting  devotion,  flung  themselves  before  their  master,  to  receive 
the  blows  of  the  nmrdorers,  and,  by  clinging  to  the  legs  of  their 
horses,  and  striving  to  pull  the  riders  from  their  saddles,  for  some 
time,  kept  back  the  press  from  his  jierson.     But  they  died  by  hun- 
dreds around  him,  and  Piicarro,  darting  through  the  throng,  seized 
his  captive  with  his  own    hand.     A  most  wanton  and  merciless 
slaughter  was  still  kept  up,  and  did  not  cease  till  the  shades  of  night 
blinded  the  assassins,  and 

'Till'  iiaiid  wliieli  slew  till  it  ooiild  sliiy  no  more 
W;is  glued  to  the  sword-hilt  with  Indian  gore.' 

■\Vithin  less  than  an  hour,  four  thousand  of  the  unarmed  and  harm- 
less multitude  that  had  so  gaily  entered  the  .square,  with  their  songs 
and  their  holiday  attire,  li;y  nmrdered  on  the  pavement.  A  more 
atrocious  and  unprovoked  massacre  is  not  recorded  in  history.  Not 
one  of  the  Sjianiards  liad  ncei/ed  an  injury."* 

Atahuallpa,  with  true  Incuan  stoieism,  despite  this  tremendous 
reverse  and  all  its  appalling  concomitants,  maintained  his  accustomed 
♦  Discoverers,  Sic,  of  Anierieiu 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF    PERU.  233 

serenity.     As  he  sat  at  supper  with  the  victor,  he  remarked  simply, 
'I  IS   ho  fortune  of  war,"  but  no  expression  of  emotion  escaped  hi^ 
statue-hke  hps,  or  betrayed  itself  in  the  nsual  stern  gravity  of  his 
face     1  he  next  day,  the  prisoners,  of  whom  a  great  number  had 
been  taken,  after  having  been  compelled  to  cleanse  the  square  and 
bury  the  corpses  of  the  victims,  were  mostly  dismissed.     Numbers 
however,  were  retained  by  the  Spaniards  as  attendants;   and  the 
army  of  the  inca,  terrified  at  the  seizure  of  their  sovereign  and  the 
massacre  of  the  nobles,  gradually  melted  away  and  dispersed  without 
any  attempt  to  avc;ige  the  outrage.     The  plunder  of  the  city  and  the 
camp  was  exceedingly  valuable,  and  it  is  said  that  in  the  royal  mag- 
azines the  quantity  of  fabrics  delicately  wrought  in  wool  was  suf- 
flcient  to  freight  several  ships. 

The  captive  inca  espied  a  hope  in  the  greediness  for  gold  with 
wWch  he  saw  the  invaders  possessed;   and  he  offered,  if  Pi^-^rro 
would  re  ease  him,  to  cover  the  floor  of  the  apartment  in  which  ley 
stood  with  gold.     Seeing  the  indecision  of  his  captor,  he  redoubled 
his  oflers,  and  standing  on  tiptoe,  pledged  himself  to  fill  it  with  the 
preoous  metal  as  high  as  he  could  reach.     Pi.arro,  hoping,  at  least 
to  secure  a  portion  of  this  magnificent  bribe,  at  once  accepted  the 
proposition,  and  a  line,  nine  feet  from  the  floor,  was  drawn  around 
the  room,  which  was  twenty-two  feet  long  and  seventeen  broad      A 
smaller  apartment  was  also  to  be  twice  filled  with  silver,  and  a  solemn 
contract,  assuring  the  inca  his  liberty  on  payment  of  this  unheard- 
of  ransom,  wns  drawn  up.    He  issued  orders,  forthwith,  to  his  officers 
that  the  golden  ornaments  from  the  palaces  and  temples  throughout 
the  empire,  should  be  sent  to  Caxamalca. 

The  ill-fated  Iluascar,  who  was  confined  in  a  city  not  far  distant, 
now,  by  allurmg  offers,  endeavoured  to  secure  the  favour  of  the  Span! 
lards,  hoping  by  their  means  to  regain  the  throne;  but  Atahuallpa. 
with  a  dark  and  cruel  policy,  availing  himself  of  the  power  ve 
remaming  in  his  hands,  avenged  the  attempted  intrigue  by  an  order 
for  his  secret  execution.     He  was  privately  drowned  in  the  river 

t^^^{'T'^         1    ^'?'"''  '"^^'""^   '^''   ^'''   ^''-^^   -variably 
sel  cted  by  the  royal  authors  of  such  deeds,  affected  deep  sorrow 
and  laid  all  the  blame  on  his  officers.  ""I'ow, 


284 


THE  PBOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


CHAPTEH   ?L 


THE  EXPEDITION  TO  PACHACAMAC.  —  THE  SPOILS  OP  CtTZCO. 

DIVISION  OF  IMMENSE  TllEASUUE.  —  THE  ATROCIOUS  TRIAI,, 
SENTENCE,  AND  MURDER  OP  ATAHUALLPA.  —  HYPOCRISY  ' 
OF  PIZARRO,  —  REFLECTIONS.  —  FATE  OF  THE  MURDERERS. 


IIerxando  Pizauro,  with  a  small  force,  was  now  dispatched  to 
Pachacamac,  the  Peruvian  Mecca,  a  liundred  leagues  distant.  On 
tlie  way  he  was  struck  with  admiration  at  the  massive  excellence  of 
the  road,  the  innumerable  herds  of  llamas  which  pastured  in  the 
hills,  and  the  frequent  signs  of  industry  and  dense  population.  The 
treasures  of  the  temple,  however,  had  been  removed  by  the  priests 
and  the  only  satisfaction  he  had  was  in  the  destruction  of  their  most 
venerated  idol,  lie  also  ("in  defliult  of  a  better,"  he  modestly  re- 
marks) made  a  sermon  to  the  people,  and  taught  them  the  sign  of 
the  cross,  as  a  charm  against  the  devil.  He  then  marched  to  Xauxa 
whore  a  portion  of  the  Peruvian  army  lay  encamped,  under  Challcu- 
chima,  the  inca's  chief  general;  and  that  commander,  to'  secure 
whose  person  the  Spaniard  was  anxious,  willingly  accompanied  him 
to  Caxamalca.  In  spite  of  Indian  stoicism,  the  old  chief  was  affected 
to  tears  at  the  sight  of  his  impri-soned  master.  "Would  that  I  had 
been  here!"  he  exclaimed;  "this  would  not  then  have  happened." 

Great  quantities  of  gold,  in  plates  or  wrought  into  ornaments  con- 
tinued to  pour  into  the  Spanish  camp;  and,  at  the  instance  of 
Atahuallpa,  Pizarro  dispatched  a  small  embassy  fo  Cuzco  to  secure 
the  treasures  of  that  ancient  cai)ital  of  the  incas.  Borne  on  the 
shoulders  of  the  nati\-os  for  six  hundred  miles,  these  emissaries 
apparently  a  coarse  and  brutal-minded  set,  arrived  at  the  city,  where 
they  were  bewildered  with  the  sj)lendour  of  its  treasures — though  not 
to  such  an  extent  as  to  preclude  their  instant  seizure  of  all  that 
appeared  portable.  Seven  hundred  plates  of  gold  were  stripped 
from  the  Temple  of  the  Sun  alone,  and  with  eight  hundred  Indians, 
Indcn  with  gold  and  silver,  they  took  their  way  back  to  the  Spanish 
camp.  ^Meanwhile,  Ahnngro,  with  a  reinforcement  of  two  hundred 
men,  had  arrived  at  San  Miguel,  and  on  learning  tiio  startling  events 
whicli  h;i(l  transpired,  hastened,  with  liii,  command,  to  the  camp  at 
Caxamalca.     (Fobruar^^,  1533). 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  PrRu.  235 

Though  the  room  was  not  quite  filled  with  gold  to  the  stir.ulated 
he.ghM'izarro  thought  ,t  prudent  to  satisfy  the  elan.ours  of  I  is  n^n 
by  an  ™medmte  d.vKs.on  of  the  spoil.     A  fifth  part  was  set  asid! 
for  the  Spanish  sovereign,  and  with  it  were  selected  some  sple  dhl 
specnnens  of  Peruvmn  art^among  them  beautiful  imitationiof  the 
Luhan  eorn,  the  ear  being  composed  of  yellow  gold,  and  the  husk 
partly  open,  with  the  beard  or  tassel,  of  silver'   With  the^e  lit 
nando  was  to  proceed  to  Spain,  and  fortify  the  interests  of  his  family 
at  court     The  remainder  of  the  treasure  was  mostly  melted  lo 
bar,  and  It.  value,  on  estunation,  proved  equal  to  that  of  fifteen 
nnlhons  of  dollars  at  the  present  day-being  the  greatest  amount  oJ 
plunder,  m  proportion  to  the  number  of  marauders,  ever  acquired 
by  n^htury  violence.     The  share  of  Pi..arro,  including  the  thron    of 
the  inea,  formed  of  solid  gold,  amounted  to  nearfy  a  million.     The 
cavalry  received  an  hundre<l  thousand  each,  and  the  infantry  half 
t  at  amount.     Despite  of  ancient  agreement  and  present  renl.> 
trance.  Almagro  and  his  people  were  not  permitted  to  receive  more 
than  a  nominal  share  of  the  spoil. 

Meanwhile,  the  inca  wa.  still  d'ctained  in  captivity,  and  was  even 
secured  with  a  chain;  while  Pizarro  darkfy  r  volved  the  Ta'sof 
n  ding  himself  of  one  who  could  yield  him'  no  further  s  rvice  and 
whose  very  ex^tence.  considering  the  devoted  loyalty  of  his  pe'ol 
was  a  source  of  constant  uneasiness  to  his  gaolers     Atahn.lln!  V' 
treasure  distributed,  haJ  earnestfy  demandrlTs^hbel      ^^^^^^  Z 
Spanish  general,  with  a  vile  affectation  of  good  faith,  which  makes 
his  treachery  and  cruelty  more  hideous  stUl,  caused  his  nota^to 
execute  a  full  receipt  for  the  stipulated  ransim.     But     p'telff  r 
the  destruction  of  the  unfortunate  sovereign  was  already'p    pa  J" 
nd  Pizarro  to  secure  himself  from  interference,  dispatehifDe  Soto' 
avaher  of  L,gh  qualilies,  and  a  friend  of  the  intLded  vi^tL  on 
d,stant  expc.l:t,on.     lie  then  taxed  his  captive  with  a  pre  tended 
plot  for  u.surn.t,on,  and  the  latter,  secretly  alarmed,  but  w   h     n 
-r  of  gayety,  replied,  "You  are  always  jesting  with  n  e.      A     ," 

Jt::Lf;£;/^^^\-t:^ -— ---..-^  -^  - 

at,  ,  .  amazed,    says  Pizarro,  in  his  account 

to  see  such  cunning  in  an  Indian."  account. 

Nevertheless,  a  villanous  indictment,  charging  the  prisoner  with 
-at  y  usurpation,  adultery,  and  intended  insurrection,  was  21 
e  ty  l,acnedup-.-a  badly-contrived  and  worse-written  ioeu  n       -' 
->s  a  Spanish  contemporary,  "devised  by  a  factious  and  unpr  nei- 


236 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


pled  priest,  n  clumsy  notary  without  conscience,  and  others  of  the 
like  stamp,  who  were  all  concerned  in  this  villany."   On  the  strength 
of  this  shameful  inst,i'.,i(  ni,  ri/.urroand  Almagro,  sitting  as  judges, 
with  the  assistance,,*;  the  i   '  nl-rous  Friar  Vulverde,  went  through 
the  mockery  of  a  trial.     The  testimony  of  Indian  witnesses,  (falsified 
by  the  interpretation  of  Felipillo,  a  creature  of  Pizarro's,  and  a  jier- 
sonal  enemy  of  the  inca,)  was  taken,  and  judgment  was  given  that 
the  victim  should  be  burned  alive  the  same  night  in  the  square  of 
Caxamulca.     The  honourable  remons!trnr,.< .  ..f  <ieveral  Spanish  offi. 
cers,  who  handed  in  a  written  protest  against  this  atrocity,  were  of 
no  avail.     The  unhapi)y  prisoner,  on  hearing  the  cruel  sentence 
exclaimed,  with  tears,  "What  have-I  done,  or  mv  children,  that  I 
should  meet  such  a  fate?  and  from  your  hands,  too,"  he  said,  turn- 
ing  to  Pizarro;  "you,  who  have  met  with  friendship  and  kinduerfs 
from  my  people,  with  whom  I  have  shared  my  treasures,  who  have 
received  nothing  but  benefits  at  my  hands!" 

Then,  with  alfecting  eagerness,  he  offered  fresh  treasures;  but 
Pizarro,  turning  aside  in  refusal,  (with  tear.s,  it  is  said,  but  with  his 
cruel  purpose  unchanged,)  the  victim  resumed  the  stoicism  which, 
but  for  a  moment,  had  forsaken  him,  and  thenceforward  displayed 
only  calmness  and  fortitude. 

In  the  evening  (August  29th)  he  was  conducted,  in  presence  of 
the  whole  army,  by  torch-light,  to  the  stake.     Valverde,  with  eager 
importunity,  continued  to  urge  that  he  should  embrace  the  Christilin 
faith,  promising  that,  if  he  would  comply,  the  milder  death  of  the 
garrnte*  should  be  substituted   for  the  agonies  of  cremation.     Pi- 
zarro confirmed  the  offer,  and  the  incn,  from  a  singular  but  affecting 
superstition,  complied.     He  believed,  we  arc  told  by  one  who  was 
present,  that  if  his  body  was  not  destroyed  by  fire,  "the  Sun,  his 
father,  would  the  next  morning  restore  him  to  life."     Accordi'ngly 
he  received  the  travesty  of  baptism,  with  the  name  of  .Juan,  ("in 
honour  of  St.  John  the  Baptist!")  and  turning  to  Pizarro,  besought 
lum  to  protect  his  orphan  children.     He  then,  with  calmness,  sub- 
mitted  to  his  fate,  while  the  Spaniards,  muttering  pniyers  fur  Iiis 
salvation,  beheld  the  last  of  the  incas  perish  by  the  death  of  the 
vilest  of  malefactors.     The  body  was  laid  out  in  state  in  the  church, 
and  the  obsequies  of  the  royal  convert  were  celebrated  with  much 
solemnity.     Ue  Soto,  on  his  return,  horrified  by  the  tidings,  rushed 

*  An  instrument  contrived  to  effect  strangulatio,.  and  rupture  of  ti.e  vertebra)  of 
the  neek— still  used  in  the  Spanish  provinces. 


THE   CONQUEST  AND   HISTORY  OF  PERU, 


237 


into  the  presence  of  Pizarro,  whom  he  found,  says  a  writer  of  the 
day,  "exhibiting  niiicli  sentiment,  with  a  great  felt  hat  dapped  on 
liis  head,  and  well  pulled  over  his  eyes."  To  the  indignant  com- 
plaints ol  that  olTieer,  the  agents  in  this  devilish  act  replied  by 
mutual  accusations,  and  attempts  to  throw  the  entire  blame  on  the 
shoulders  of  each  other. 

"Thus  ends  one  of  the  very  darkest  pages  of  Spanish  and  Amer- 
ican history.    No  reader  of  feeling  or  rellection  will  require  comment 
on  a  deed  bearing  in  its  face  the  brand  of  such  odious   perfidy, 
ingratitude  and  cruelty.     In  return  for  his  own  good  faith,  for  the 
submission  of  his  empire,  for  the  surrender  of  unhoped  treasure,  the 
unhappy  victim  met  with  imprisonment,  chains,  and  the  sentence  to 
a  cruel  and  revolting  death.     Despite  his  i)ompous  affectation  of 
regret,  (remorse  he  may  well  have  felt,)  the  burden  of  this  damning 
infamy  rests  almost  entirely  on  the  head  of  Pizarro.     Whatever 
instruments  he  emifloycd,  the  deed  was  his  own— a  deed  which 
could  never  have  been  committed  by  any  but  such  as  himself— men 
nntuially  fierce,  rapacious  and  cruel,  uneducated,  save  in  the  super- 
stitions of  a  wretched  dogmatism,  and  trained  from  childhood  to 
scenes  of  blood,  ojipression,  and  violence.     J  doubtless  a  dark  and 
cruel  policy  was  his  main  and  prompting  motive;  but  it  is  said  that 
the  inconlive  of  personal  ])ique  was  not  wanting.     The  imprisoned 
inca,  delighting  in  the  mysterious  art  of  writing',  (which  he  regarded 
as  a  new  sense,)  had  caused  the  name  of  God  to  be  inscribed  on  his 
nail,  and   had  presented  it  to  each  of  the  sohlicrs,  charmed  with 
their  ready  and  concurrent  response.    Pizarro,  who  had  never  learned 
to  read,  was  unable  to  answer  him;  and  the  ill-concealed  contempt 
of  the  inca,  it  is  said,  awakened  a  hatred  in  the  heart  of  his  con- 
queror, that  ere  long  found  its  bloody  gratification. 

"To  one  who,  like  the  ancient  Greek,  believes  in  an  aven'nn;'- 
Nemesis,  there  is  something  very  comfortable  in  recalling  the  vi.rien^ 
deaths  which  befell  nearly  all  the  actors  in  this  dolefid  tragedy— 
though  little  reflec  on  is  needed  to  show  that  the  evil  wislR<s  and 
undisciplined  passions  which  prompted  the  crime,  only  worked  out 
their  legitimate  end  in  involving  its  authors  in  fresh  and  fatal 
adventures.  Old  Purehas  (abating  one  or  two  mistakes  in  fact,  such 
as  the  complicity  of  Soto,)  gives,  in  a  few  words,  a  more  terse  and 
edilying  version  of  their  end  than  any  writer  on  the  subject.  'But 
0<4  the  righteous  Judge,  seeing  this  villanous  aet,  sufiered  none  of 
those  Spaniards  to  die  by  the  cour.sc  of  nature,  but  brought  thein  to 


288 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  IIISTOnY. 


cinll  and  shamefull  ondB.  *  »  #  Ilia' (Atub-iallpa's) 
Murtherers  dyed,  it  is  said,  the  like  bloudy  ends;  ^A/m^m  was 
cxecutcMl  by  Pi,:arro,  and  hoe  slaine  by  yong  Ahnar,ro;  and  him 
\cicca  de  Castro  did  likewise  put  to  death.  John  Pl,:arro  was  slaine 
of  the  Indians.  Martiii  an  other  of  the  brethren  was  slaine  with 
J^rancis.  Ferdmamlus  was  imprisoned  in  Spaino  and  his  end  vn- 
knowne;  Oonzales  was  done  to  death  by  Oasca.  Soto  dyed  of 
thought  in  Florida;  and  ciuill  warres  eate  vp  the  resto  in  Perii.'*"f 


CHAPTER   ?n. 


EXECUTION    OP    CHAT,T,CUCirnrA.  — INDIAN     HOSTILITIES  - 
ENTRANCE  OF  THE  SPANIARDS  INTO  CUZCO.— Jf  0  RE  TREAS- 
URl?.— INAUGURATION   OP    THE    INCA    MANCO    CAPAC  — 
LIMA  FOUNDED.  — DISPUTES  BETWEEN  ALMAORO   AND 
THE  PIZARROS.  — RISING  OP  THE  I  N  D I A  N  S.— SIEGE 
OF     CUZCO,— MASSACRE     OP    THE     SPANIARDS- 
CIVIL  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  SP  A  NISH  0  EN  ERAL9. 
—  DEFEAT  AND  EXECUTION  OF  ALMAORO. 

His  crime  accomplished, 

"The  most  arch  deed  of  piteous  mnssncre 
Thiit  ever  yet  tliis  land  was  guilty  of," 

Pizarro,  with  five  hundred  Spaniards  and  many  Indians,  set  out  for 
Cuzco,  defeatinor  on  the  way,  at  Xauxa,  a  large  hostile  native  force 
but  sustaining  some  loss  in  an  unlucky  expedition,  hca.lod  by  De 

Tnl  1,  \  '"Stance  of  cruelty  disgraced  his  march  in  the  mnnler 
oi  Ohallcuchima,  to  whose  encouragement  he  attributed  these  ho.til- 
rties,  and  whom  with  habitual  cruelty,  he  ordered  to  be  burned  alive 
ihe  old  chief,  despite  the  exhortations  of  Valverde,  at  the  stake 
dec  med  conversion,  saying  only,  "I  do  not  understand  the  reliction 
of  he  white  men,"  and  undergoing  his  cruel  fate  with  true  Indian 
fortitude,  the  name  of  "Pachacamac,"  the  last  word  upon  his  lips. 

»  Discoverers,  &c.,  of  Ameriea. 

t  Valvo.de,  periiaps  as  culpable  ns  any,  j^ained  the  bishopric  of  Cuzco,  the  grand 


THE  C0NUUK8T  ANT)   lU  s  T  O  R  Y   OF  PERT.  239 

To  countervail  the  nnarcliy  which  hnd  already  begun  to  prevail 
among  the  numoroua  trii,os  of  i'eru,  the  Spanish  co.ninandor,  with 
all  practicable  ceremony,  had  inv(;Hted  Toparca,  a  brother  of  his 
chief  victim,  with  the  imperial  <lignity.     But  tliis  youth  died  on  the 
march,  and  soon  afterwards,  a  young  Peruvian  noble,  numerously 
attended,  presented  himself  in  the  Spanish  camp.     This  was  Manco 
Capac,  a  brotlier  of  Uuascar,  who  now  claimed  the  throne  and  to 
whom  the  general,  hoping  to  find  him  a  i)liable  tool,  returned  en- 
couraging replies.     On  the  loth  of  November,  1533,  the  Spanish 
and  Indian  army  entered  Cuzco,  amid  the  eager  gaze  of  a  vast  mul- 
titudc  of  natives,  who  had  thronged  to  behold  the  terrible  stran-n-rs 
The  population  of  the  city  alone,  it  is  said,  .vas  some  hundreds  of 
thousands,  and  the  Spaniards  were  surprised  at  the  evidences  of  art 
and  relinement-the  forts  and  houses  of  stone,  admirably  wrou-dit 
the  pavement  of  the  same  material,  and  the  aqueduct  supplyin-'^tho 
city  with  water.  ° 

Fresh  plunder,  much  of  it  obtained  by  torture,  repaid  the  cruelty 
of  the  invaders,  though  the  amount  was  less  than  had  already  been 
gained  as  the  ransom  of  the  unfortunate  inca.  Vast  hoards  of  treasure 
It  IS  said,  were  buried  in  various  j.arts  of  the  country  by  the  Peru- 
vians, who  thus  defrauded  the  rapacity  of  their  conquerors.  Enough 
however,  was  obtained  to  enhance  the  value  of  European  articles  to 
almost  fabulous  prices,  and  to  gratify  the  national  passion  for  gaming 
to  Its  wildest  and  most  ruinous  extent. 

Pizarro,  supposing  his  obedience  reliable,  now  invested  the  young 
Inca  Manco  with  the  imperial  title,  the  national  ceremonies  being 
solemnly  performed;  an<l  then  immediately  proceeded  with  his  plans 
for  the  subjection   and  settlemetit   of  the   countrv.     The    people 
apparently  satisfied  with  the  nominal  coronation  of  anativesovereirrn' 
opposed  little  and  ineffectual  resistance  to  the  supremacy  of  The 
invaders.     Near  Pachacamac,  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  Kimac  the 
victor  in  January,  1535,  commenced  the  foundation  of  a  stately 'cao- 
ital,  which  he  called  "Ciudad  de  los  Keyes"  (City  of  the  Kin4   but 
which,  under  the  name  of  Lima,  still   retains^early  its  original 
appellation.     Under  the  toiling  hands  of  a  vast  multitude  of  I.ulian 
labourers  a  massive  city,  with  pahices,  churches,  and  public  build- 
ings,  rapuly  arose,  and  to  this  day  it  remains  one  of  the  fairest  and 
most  populous  capitals  of  the  New  World. 

Hernando,  in  January,  1532,  with  an  immense  treasure,  arrived 
in  Spam,  where  he  readily  procured  from  the  empnror  a  full  cnn 


240 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


firmation  of  the  acts  and  authority  of  his  brother;  and  with  a 
numerous  and  well-appointed  force  of  adventurers,  attracted  by  the 
brilliant  tidings  of  plunder  and  conquest,  again  set  sail  for  the  isth- 
mus.    A  royal  grant  was  likewise  made  to  Almagro,  empowering 
him  to  conquer  and  rule  a  principality  of  his  own,  extending  two 
hundred  leagues  south  of  that  of  Pizarro.     That  ambitious  and  ill- 
used  commander,  on  receiving  the  news,  insisted  that  Cuzco,  where 
he  was  quartered,  lay  within  the  limits  of  his  jurisdiction;  and  a 
civil  war  between  the  two  factions  was  only  prevented  by  the  address 
of  Pizarro,  who  hastened  to  the  scene,  and  once  more  patched  up  a 
hollow  treaty  with  his  rival.     It  was  especially  provided  that  neither 
should  malign  or  disparage  the  other  in  their  dispatches  to  the  court 
and  both  parties  once  more  invoked  the  curses  of  Heaven  on  their 
heaJs,  if  they  should  violate  the  agreement.     Their  jealous  enmity 
thus,  for  the  moment,  appeased,  Almagro  set  forth  on  his  expedition 
for  the  conquest  of  the  realms  of  the  South.     (See  History  of  Chili ) 
The  young  inca,  Manco  Capac,  though  he  had  readily  accepted 
and  even  solicited  elevation  to  power  at  the  hands  of  the  Conqueror' 
was  not  blind  to  the  degradation  of  his  name  or  the  enslavement  of 
his  country.     Plotting  the  extermination  of  the  invaders    he  had 
entrusted  to  his  brother  pnd  the  High-priest  of  the  Sun,  who  accom- 
panied Almagro,  a  secret  errand  of  insurrection  to  the  distant  caciques 
Suspicion  being  excited,  he  was  arrested,  and  i)laced  in  close  confine^ 
ment;  but,  by  an  ingenious  stratagem,  efFocted  his  escape.     Having 
won  the  confidence  of  Hernan.do  Piiarro,  his  guardian,  by  successive 
disclosures  of  concealed  treasure,  he  was  suffered  to  depart,  with  a 
small  escort,  to  bring  to  Cuzco  a  statue  of  his  falher,  the  Inca  Iluayna 
Capac,  of  pure  gold,  which  he  said  had  been  deposited  in  a  cave  of 
the  Andes.     Hernando,  soon  finding  himself  duped,  dispatclied  his 
brotlier  Juan,  with  sixty  horse,  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive;  but  that 
officer  was  presently  met  by  an  army  of  several  thousand  Indian- 
under  command  of  Afanco  himself,  and  was  compelled  to  retreat' 
hotly  pursued,  to  the  native  capital.  ' 

He  found  that  city  surrounded  by  an  immense  force  of  Peruvians 
--It  IS  said,  two  hundred  thousand  strong-which,  armed  with  cop- 
per-headed spears  and  axes,  presented  a  brilliant  and  terrible  ap,)ear- 
ance.  Singular  to  state,  this  overwhelming  array  opened  its  ranks 
and  allowed  tlie  little  body  of  Spanish  cavaliers  to  pass  unmolested 
into  the  town-their  object,  most  likely,  being  to  serure  the  destruo-' 
tion  of  as  many  of  the  invaders  as  possible.     (February,  15C6 ) 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY    OF  PERU.  241 

On  the  following  morning  they  assaulted  the  citj  with  innumer. 
ble  missiles,  and  by  burning  arrows  fired  the  roofs   wh  IT 
mostly  composed  of  thatch,  were  peculiarly  1  ill?'        .   '        "° 
For  several  days  the  fire  ra^ed  deZ  J   l  ,   °  conflagration. 

than  half  the  city.  The  Spfntrds  on  ?  T^'""'"'"^^^  "^«^« 
with  a  thousand^ndian  alLs  s  1' 7  ^  .^"."^'■'^  ^"  """^^^^' 
and  being  well  suppled  S^vafi"  H'  '^'V"*  '^^^^'>'' 
.uch  efi^t,  upon  t^thick  rl^^J^^J^^'^l,:;^ 
was  great,  on  perceivino-  fmm  th^  t,     j       i  ■  ?  -^"eiraistiess 

and  wielding  a  lo,,/Ll    Itir"*'""^''''™*'''^  "™"'"'. 

were  »„„„3,ed  b,  showe.  of  S    f  C  HeZ  rVv" '^*""' 
m  the  night,  after  desperate  figh,i„J  t^k  i.T   °'    ^  "  'rPV* 

flnng  hin,.elf  headlong  from  the  s™Li!       '         ^«  ""  ™  '"  ""'■ 

hundred,  none  of  horn  htw/verr  '.T""'''®  '"  ""■ '"  f"" 
a.taeked  and  mostl/cur^^iXcordm  l"  ?""""«  "■  ''°'"« 
forces  of  the  Peruvians     PiVll     ^o  <i,lleras,  by  the  overwhelming 

ing  assistance  from  AIvar^^TT;  T  "        ''T';, """  ''="°"''  '="'™«- 

some  fortunate  sunnlip«  L  i    1 1  superiority  of  their  arms,  and 

"■hioh  th^r,  e^  u  roL  d  ",   ,°=r'?  *''■  """X"-""' '.«  by 

eaing,  and'a.  le^g^'X  ^.V^;;     *"„  "o  Tr"™-^'  "T"  '°^ 

ottarrirr-'-™^'-^^^^^^^^^^ 

V.'L.  llf.—i,; 


2'12 


THE  PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF  HISTORY, 


TIic  Tnca  Munco,  with  a  portion  of  his  force,  withdrew  to  Tambo, 
a  stroMghold  not  far  fioni  the  city,  and  hostilities  were  still  briskly 
carried  on.  Hernando,  who  attempted  to  storm  this  place  in  a  night 
attack,  was  repulsed,  after  three  desperate  assaults,  by  the  inca,  and 
was  compelled,  with  the  enemy  hanging  closely  on  his  rear,  to  regain, 
by  a  forced  march,  his  quarters  at  Cuzco.  The  triumphant  Peru- 
vians, however,  falling  upon  Almagro,  on  his  return  from  the  dis- 
astrous expedition  to  Chili,  in  the  valley  of  Yucay,  met  with  a 
signal  defeat. 

That  active  and  ambitious  commander,  the  old  grudge  against  his 
false  associate  still  rankling  in  his  mind,  now  determined  on  reas- 
serting by  force  his  claim  to  the  Peruvian  capital.  Accordingly,  on 
a  dark  and  stormy  night,  he  succeeded  in  taking  the  garrison  by 
surprise,  and  made  prisoners  of  Hernando  and  Gonzalo  Pizarro. 
Immediately  after  this  signal  success,  he  marched  against  one  Alva- 
rado,  a  general  of  Pizarro's,  defeated  liim,  and  brought  him,  with 
nearly  all  his  force  of  five  hundred  men,  prisoners  to  Cuzco.  The 
governor,  enraged  and  alarmed  at  these  misfortunes,  was  unable,  for 
the  time,  to  avenge  them.  He  dispatched  Kspinosa,  one  of  the  chief 
patrons  of  his  original  enterprise,  to  Cuzco,  to  attempt  negotiation?, 
awaiting,  meanwhile,  the  strengthening  of  his  forces,  donzalo  and 
Alvarado  contrived  to  eftect  their  escape,  and  Almagro  hnally  con- 
sented to  refer  the  matters  in  dispute  to  a  friar,  named  'Pobadilla. 
This  \unpire,  the  creature  of  Pizarro,  decided  every  point  in  favour 
of  the  latter,  who,  however,  was  enabled  to  obtain  the  release  of 
Hernando  only  by  assenting  to  more  liberal  conditions. 

Tiiis  object  once  attained,  without  the  slightest  regard  to  stipula- 
tions, he  at  once  recommenced  hostilities,  and  dispatched  Hernando, 
with  an  army  of  seven  hundred  men,  against  his  detested  rival. 
Almagro,  with  a  somewhat  smaller  force,  encountered  him  not  far 
from  the  city;  but  being  disabled,  by  old  age  and  inlirniities,  from 
leading  his  troops,  was  compelled  to  survey  the  scene  of  conflict 
from  a  litter.  His  lieutenant,  Orgonez,  a  cavalier  of  great  ferocity 
and  bravery,  took  tlie  command,  and  contested  the  battle,  whieli 
was  desperate  in  the  extreme.  Two  hundred  were  killed  on  the 
field,  but  the  partisans  of  Pizarro  finally  triumphed.  Almagro  was 
made  prisoner,  and  Orgofiez,  with  others,  was  ferociously  murdered 
aflcr  surrender — a  circumstance  demonstrating  the  extreme  hatred 
and  rancour  which  prevailed  between  the  two  factions.  (April,  1538.) 
The  defeated  general,  after  the  mockery  of  a  protracted  trial,  con- 


I 


THE   CONQUEST   AKI>,nsxORV   OK   PEKU.  243 

<lncted  by  Hernando,  was  sentenced  to  execution.     He  bad  alvv.vs 
been  no  od  for  Ins  extreme  daring,  and  had  probably  si  more 
liard  ijgliting  tlian  any  other  man  in  Peru      V,  f  J 
he  begged  „i.eo„s„  L  ,,,  ..Te-a  Clatiln^U'S^;  ".JmI^ 


CHiPTEBVlII. 

""''""— 1118  CilAIlACri'Il,  ETC. 

.0  *patch  u:r:iz.^:i^j:^zr\:tr^r:r  "■*"'* 

by  all  the  wealth  of  Peru      fo  ^  ' ,     "''"'  '^""^'''  ^'''^'^ 

^^     ^u  tnat  time  all  his  brothers  were  dead,  and  Pern  Iv.,? 
passed  under  the  rule  of  others  *^* 

«"n,  was  BO  hard  pres^d  a       ,  he  ,  "?       T'""  """  °"™- 

only  a  single  fe..  e  Ipal  ™.  „n!;:"'"'  '"  '°^"f"="''  -"> 
savage  recesses  of  the  A^  IhII  f  7'"  ''"'■'■■'''  '"  ""' 
lying  at  inu^rval,  fron,  I^   L,,ll  ^  "  "^^  ""--'  ""''  '"'■ 

™« '-SO  on  .,,„  Span?    ds'dp;:™::™'   '«"'"'*'' 

tortured  to  death  one  of  ,l,e  wiv  s  "f  t.^  ,,,""• "''  "'""^^^• 

«:r!cr^on,r-''"'^^^^^^^ 


244 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF   IIISTOKY. 


r 

I! 


of  Peru  appeared  completely  overawod  by  the  continually-increasing 
force  of  the  Spaniards. 

The  country,  of  course,  from  the  brilliant  attractions  presented  by 
its  wealth  and  enhanced  by  the  sagacious  policy  of  Pizarro,  was 
settled  with  extraordinary  rapidity.  The  government  of  Quito  had 
been  assigned  to  his  brother  Gonzalo,  a  man  of  high  enterprise,  who 
Iiresontly  made  great  preparations  for  fresh  discovery.  With  three 
hundred  and  fifty  Spaniards  and  four  thou.sand  Indians,  driving  a 
vast  herd  of  swine,  as  a  resource  against  famine,  in  the  year  1540 
he  set  forth  for  the  eastward.  Crossing  the  Andes,  amid  terrible 
difficulties,  he  entered  the  Land  of  Cinnamon,  and  thence,  attracted 
by  alluring  reports  of  treasure,  pressed  onward  to  the  Napo,  one  of 
the  tributaries  of  the  Amazon.  By  this  time,  all  the  swine,  as  well 
as  a  thousand  dogs  provided  for  warfare  witli  the  natives,  had  been 
devoured  or  lost,  or  had  perished  on  the  way;  and  the  adventurers, 
suffering  grievously  from  famine,  wore  compelled  to  feed  on  wild 
roots,  on  toads  and  other  loathsome  reptiles,  and  finally  even  on  the 
leather  of  their  belts  and  saddles. 

To  evade  the  almost  insurmountable  difficulties  of  following  the 
river,  Gonzalo  commenced  the  building  of  a  vessel,  converting  the 
shoes  of  the  horses  into  nails,  and  the  ragged  garments  of  the  sol- 
diers into  oakum.  By  two  months  of  constant  labour,  it  was  com- 
pleted, and  Francisco  de  Orcllana,  with  a  small  crew,  was  put  in 
command,  with  directions  to  proceed  down  the  river  and  procure 
supplies.  After  waiting  a  long  time  in  vain  for  his  return,  the 
army  again  took  up  its  march  along  the  banks,  and,  after  two  montlis 
mor>  of  extreme  toil  and  suffering,  reached  the  Amazon.  From  a 
Spaniard  who  had  here  been  set  ashore  by  Orellana,  they  learned 
lliat  that  commander,  carried  downward  by  a  fierce  current,  had 
reached  the  Great  liiver  in  only  three  days;  that  finding  it  imj)o.«si- 
ble  to  return  against  it,  he  had  abandoned  his  companions  to  their 
fate,  and  continued  his  course  down  the  Amazon.  Extraordinary 
to  relate,  after  the  most  memorable  inland  voyage  on  record,  he 
reached  the  sea,  and  arrived  safely  in  Spain.  No  cour.se  now  re- 
mained for  Gonzalo  l)ut  to  retrace  his  stejis,  antl  accord  in  "-I  v  after 
more  than  a  year  consnnied  in  this  terrible  'nareh,  and  an  equal 
time  in  the  return,  in  .Inne,  lAJ'i,  wit',  the  remnant  of  his  eonimai)d, 
he  snceeed(>d  in  re;i2aiiiiii<r  his  cnjiital  of  Quito.     Only  eiglity  of  the 


<-; 


panianls  and 


ilf  till'  IndiMus  had  snrviv(!(]. 


The  triumph  of   Tiz  ,110  sit  the  (lownfall  of  his  ancient  rival,  was 


r  n  r.    I)  t:  /•■  /; .% 


N,'>      ^ 


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THE  CONQUEST  AND 


HISTORY    OF  PERU. 


245 


called,  were  mercilessl?oonfl«. t'd  J!'X  r^"""  '""''"'  ""' 
that  once  powerful  pany  witS'  """^  *«  »'>a'tered  remains  of 

them^elvef  to  Lima  "her!  1!  iT5  °'''''^.'''  "'*  ^•"^'  ^<^^ 
»idera.io„.  Sunk  .^  fte  L't  l-S '"  ™'"  '■°''."'"'"  "'  ~"- 
which  was  aggravated  b^r  slel  rf  .LTf^'  *?  "^-'"'"^  "^ 

these  unfortunate  partisan'  finall/weXe™'  P°'  '"T""- 
ever,  treated  ther  enmitv  with  im,v  7=1"=""«-    Pizarro,  how- 

tho.  who  cautioned  ht'^dll  ^^  "Slrd^Tr;^"'^™^  "^ 
bad  luc.  enough.     We  wiS  not  ttuble  *! to t'  '"F  '^  ""^ 

under  no  concern  "  he  hni:fTJit;i,r  „  i      ^  "luie,  ^^       ^^^ 

"ahout  n,,  life,  'it  L^ff  irri':  'r''"  «"°"*--. 

trator  of  these  civil  discords  1  ■,,  1,.7?  ,i  ^  "°"'"  "^  "* 
the  as.,assination  of  rXv  0„"c  T.r'"""'^'  "'"°"^''  "" 
conscientious  scruples,  rtvIledL  „kt  in  T  """'''''  ""■°"='' 
fessor  „..te„ed  tol/tbe  partl^.^':;:;^!::;:"!?  B„"; 
Pizarro,  deeming  the  statement  impossible  said   -tZ  I' 

a  bishopric,"  and  was  with  difficulty  pruaieSbv  hi  f  '^T.  '''"*' 
at  home  on  the  day  appointed  for  L-fdL^tfiorf         "^"'^  '^  ^^^^ 

Un  that  day  (Sunday,  June  2fi   l^^ll  ^  ♦!.. 
nn,nber,  were  assembl^J  at  .he  1'^    f'ltar'^r^dtf'f  '" 
the  governor  as  he  returned  from  mas,.    Perceiv  ni-  f^Lt      ,         ° 
t  .at  their  plot  was  discovered  or  a.  leas   sustS    „  a  "^^ 

faporation,  they  rushed  into  the  street  cr    ,  r?.Lo'„L,i  f'  ° 

death  to  the  tvrant!"  Pizarro  it  ,l!  ,^  *'  ^""gl'-^U'ekingl 
."■n,ber  of  his'friends,  wh  n  a  L««  e  T'  ""  "'  ''''""'•  "'"'  " 
cO'in,.,  "Help!  help!  'a„  t  "e  Me  „  CMitr""™'™'  ""  """"• 
-Marouisl"     Most  nf  ih.  .,„.  .    t  "  °°"""8  '»  '""'•der  the 

.;.o  ,Lden,  .r;C^X;,^Srret"l^T''''"'"'^ '"^ 
ll.e  d«>r,  while  he  buckled  on  his  arni     t1    1  ■'""l  '°       '' 

'-.brother,  wL  was  asTJ^'J^;  I'm"       | 


m 


L 


246 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK    OK   HISTOliV. 


sprang  to  the  door,  and,  with  a  few  of  the  governor's  household 
defended  it  vaUantly;  but,  after  doing  some  execution,  was  over- 
powered and  slain. 

Pizarro  now  flung  tway  his  cuirass,  which  he  had  vainly  endeav- 
oured to  buckle  on,  and,  with  a  cloak  wrapped  round  his  left  arm 
sword  in  hand,  sprang  like  a  lion  into  the  fray.  "Ha,  traitors  1" 
shouted  the  old  viceroy,  "have  you  come  to  kill  me  in  my  own 
house  1  Courage,  my  friends,  we  are  yet  enough  to  make  them 
repeut  their  audacity.''  He  killed  three  of  the  conspirators  with  his 
own  hand,  but  was  at  last  struck  to  the  e-irth  by  the  numerous 
weapons  of  his  enemies.  Seeing  his  death,  he  besought  a  confessor, 
but  none  was  at  hand ;  and,  tracing  a  cross  on  the  floor  with  his  own 
blood,  and  attempting  to  kiss  it,  he  murmured,  "  Jesu!"  and  yielded 
up  his  soul  under  numerous  sword- thrusts.  The  triumphant  assas- 
sins rushed  into  the  street,  brandishing  their  bloody  swords  and 
crying,  "The  tyrant  is  dead!  Long  live  the  emperor  and  his  gov- 
ernor, Almagro." 

The  Men  of  Chili,  still  three  hundred  in  number,  at  once  rallied 
around  their  youthful  chief,  and  proclaimed  him  governor — the  par- 
tisans of  Pizarro,  completely  overawed,  venturing  on  no  opposition. 
That  same  night,  the  remains  of  the  victim,  wrapped  in  a  coarse 
cotton  cloth,  and  attended  only  by  his  wife  and  a  few  black  servants, 
wei-e  huddled  into  an  obscure  grave  in  the  corner  of  the  cathedral. 
They  were  afterwards,  however,  removed  to  a  more  honourable  place, 
and  commemorated  by  a  monument  suitable  to  his  high  rank  and 
great  achievements. 

"  Thus,  at  the  age  of  about  sixty -five,  perished  Francisco  Pizarro, 
the  Conqueror  of  Peru,  the  most  remarkable  and  perhaps  the  worst 
man  of  that  host  of  discoverers  and  conquerors  by  whom  the  early 
history  of  America  has  been  illustrated  and  disgraced.  His  career 
forms  the  best  commentary  onliis  character.  Ambition  and  rapacity 
appear  to  have  been  his  ruling  traits;  but  he  was  not  avaricious;  for 
his  immense  acquisitions  were  devoted  not  merely  to  his  own 
aggrandizement,  but  to  the  nobler  ofRce  of  building  cities,  settling 
colonies,  and  laying  the  foundations  of  an  empire.  Though  bigott'd 
in  the  extreme,  he  had  none  of  that  crusading  zeal  which  so  emi- 
nently distinguished  Cortes,  and  he  was  far  more  anxious  to  seize 
the  treasures  and  to  enslave  the  bodies  of  the  Indians  than  to  con- 
vert their  souls.  Doubtless,  he  was  as  brave  as  a  man  can  be,  and 
possessed  of  a  fortitude  and  perseverance  perhaps  surpassing  that 


THE  CONQUEST  AND   HISTORY  OF  PERU. 


247 


of  any  character  recorded  in  history.  But  he  was  cruel,  remorseless, 
and  perfidious  to  the  very  extrernest  degree;  and  his  name  has  ever 
been  held  in  deserved  execration  by  the  great  majority  of  mankind  "* 


CH  AFTER   II. 

VACA  DE  CASTRO.— DEFEAT  OF  YOUNG  ALMAORO  AT  CHUPAS  -^ 

BLASCO  NUNEZ  DE  VELA,— UNPOPULAR  DECREES.  — REBELLION 

HEADED  BY  OONZ.    -^  PIZARRO— OVERTHROW  OF  THE  VICEROY. 

By  a  singular  coincidence,  devoutly  ascribed  by  an  early  writer 
to  the  special  interposition  of  Providence,  a  legitimate  successor  to 
the  viceroyalty  of  Peru  had  already  arrived  in  the  New  World  at  the 
time  of  Pizarro's  assa.ssination.  This  was  the  Licentiate  Vaca  de 
Castro  who  came  over  from  Spain  ostensibly  as  a  royal  commissioner 
to  lend  the  aid  of  his  legal  knowledge  and  ability  in  the  adminis- 
tration  of  government;  but  with  private  instructions  to  keep  close 
watch  over  Pizarro's  conduct,  and  to  make  report  to  the  Spanish 
court  of  any  undue  assumption  of  power,  or  threatened  infringement 
of  the  royal  prerogative.  He  was  also  provided  with  formal  authority 
to  succeed  to  the  government,  in  case  of  the  death  of  the  reignine 
viceroy.  °      = 

The  timely  approach  of  this  official  gave   opportunity  to   the 
opponents  of  the  rebellious  Men  of  Chili,  to  unite  their  forces  and 
take  a  definitive  position.     Alonzo  de  Alvarado,  and  Alvarez  de 
Ilolgum,  two  of  the  principal  military  officers  of  Pizarro,  were  both 
m  command  of  trusty  and  veteran  troops,  and  readilv  lent  their 
assistance  in  opposition  to  the  Almagran  faction.     Vau    Je  Castro 
had  not  been  bred  to  arms,  but  the  courage  and  spirit  natural  to  a 
Spanish  cavalier  su.cained  him  in  his  dangerous  position.     He  has- 
tened to  Qui.o,  and  collecting  what  forces  he  could  muster,  proclaimed 
bis  comnHss.on.  and  prepared  to  enter  upon  a  forcible  assertion  of 
his  rights.     Messengers  were  dispatched  in  various  directions  to  set 
lorth  his  clauns  in  the  more  important  towns. 

Young  Almagro,  in  the  mean  time,  having  furnished  his  little 
army  at  Luna  with  abundance  ol'  martial  equipments  and  with 

*  Disiiovcrers,  &c..  of  Auieiica. 


248 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


lioraes,  hastened  to  out  off  the  approach  of  Ilolguin,  who,  having 
established  the  legitimate  authority  at  Cuzco,  was  on  his  march  to 
join  the  forces  of  Alvarado.  At  this  juncture  the  cause  of  the 
insurgents  suftered  heavy  loss  by  the  death  of  the  chief  conspirator, 
Juan  de  Rada.  The  quarrels  between  two  rival  claimants  to  his 
position  in  the  army  occasioned  such  difficulties  and  delay,  that 
Ilolguin  completed  his  march  without  impediment. 

Almagro  therefore  proceeded  to  Cuzco,  and  having  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  city,  devoted  himself  to  preparing  his  forces  for  the 
anticipated  struggle     Cannon  were  cast,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Pedro  de  Candia  himself,  who  had  espoused  Almagro's  cause,  and 
gun-powder  was   manufactured,    saltpetre   being  procured   in  the 
vicinity.     Arms  plundered  at  the  former  siege  of  Cuzco  were  also 
brought  in  and  delivered  to  the  troops  by  the  subjects  of  Manco  the 
Inca.     In  the  midst  of  his  preparations,  the  young  commander  vainly 
endeavoured  to  negotiate  with  the  new  viceroy,  offering  to  confine 
himself  to  the  occupation  of  his  paternal  inheritance  of  New  Toledo. 
Vaca  de  Castro  having  joined  the  forces  of  Ilolguin  and  Alvarado 
and  having  personally  assumed  the  command  of  the  army,  moved 
forward  towards  Xauxa.    With  a  small  escort  he  visited  Lima,  where 
he  was  enthusiastically  received,  and  where  he  procured  fresh  recruits 
and  supplies  of  arms  and  ammunition.     From  Xauxa  he  marched  to 
Guamanga,  thirty  leagues  distant,  and  thence  to  the  plains  of  Chupas, 
where,  on  the  16th  of  September,  1542,  he  encountered  the  army  of 
Almagro.     The  latter  was  posted  in  a  favourable  oosition,  v/here 
the  artillery,  of  which  he  possessed  sixteen  effective  pieces,  could  be 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  assailants.     His  forces  were  numerically 
inferior  to  those  of  the  viceroy,  whose  whole  array  amounted  to 
about  seven  hundred  men,  but  in  arms  and  equipments  his  troops 
had  greatly  the  advantage. 

As  the  forces  of  tlic  viceroy  approached,  the  battle  commenced  by 
a  discharge  of  artillery ;  but,  as  was  supposed,  from  the  treachery 
of  Pedro  de  Candia,  the  guns  were  so  misdirected  or  mismana<red 
that  little  effect  was  produced  upon  the  assailants.  Almagro,  with 
his  own  hand,  took  the  life  of  the  offender  upon  the  field.  A  bloody 
and  obstinately  contested  fray  ensued,  and  was  maintained  with 
unabated  fury  until  long  after  night-fall,  when  victory  declared  in 
favour  of  the  viceroy.  Almagro  and  his  remaining  followers  were 
driven  from  the  field  in  total  rout.  The  unfortunate  but  gallant 
young  chieftain  was  seized  at  Cuzco,  and,  after  a  military  trial,  was 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  III8T0UV  OF  PEBU.  249 

condemned  to  deatl,.  He  met  his  fate  with  great  heroism.  Multi- 
tudes of  h.s  partisans  were  also  hunted  from  their  places  of  conceal- 
ment or  refuge,  and  jjerinhed,  like  their  leader,  on  the  scaffold' 

Vaca  de  Castro  did  not  long  remain  in  possession  of  the  dignity 
maintained  with  such  distinguished  courage  on  the  field  of  Chunas 
and  such  unrelenting  severity  in  the  day  of  success.     He  was  super- 
seded by  an  aged  knight  by  the  name  of  Blasco  Nunez  Vela  who 
arrived  at  Peru  in  the  month  of  March,  1544.     The  appointm^ntof 
this  oflicnd,  was  due  to  the  unwearied  exertions  of  Las  Casas  and 
other  philanthropists,  who  had  laboriously  collected  evidenc^o  of  the 
enormities  practiced  in  the  colonics,  and  pres.sed  it  upon  the  con- 
science  of  the  emperor     The  manner  in  which  the  aborigines  were 
I     enslaved  and  destroyed  to  enrich  their  rapacious  masters;  the  waste 
of  the  national  resou.ces  in  the  wanton  destruction  of  the  flocks  of 
llamas;  the  consequent  poverty  and  misery  of  the  Indians,  who  ill- 
fed,  unhoused,  and  nearly  naked,  were  condemned  to  hopeless  and 
unceasing  toil  in  the  mines;  and  the  general  misrule  and  corruption 
were  laid  open  and  eloquently  animadverted  upon  before  a  roya 
council,  convened  at  Valhulolid  for  the  purpose  of  framing  laws  for 
the  colonies  in  the  New  World. 

A  code  was  accordingly  prepared,  and  received  the  royal  sanction 
by  which,  among  other  j,rovisions,  the  prospective  freedom  of  all 
ndian  slaves  was  provided  for,  and  many  regulations  were  laid 
down  or  their  protection  Public  officers  and  ecclesiastics,  together 
Mth  al]  ,vho  had  shared  in  the  cause  of  the  insurgents  against  the 
k^gu.mate  government,  were  absolutely  forbidden  to  h.Jd  slaves 
Other  acts  of  misconduct  were  also  to  work  a  forfeiture  of  this  species 
of  property.  To  enforce  the  new  code,  Blasco  Nunez  was  sent  over 
h'om  Spain,  ,n  comi.any  with  four  judges,  armed  with  the  imperial 
commission  to  assist  in  the  administration  of  the  government.  • 

1  he  new  viceroy  commenced  the  execution  of  his  orders  with  the 
jatmost  promptitude  and  severity.  He  liberated  some  hundreds  of 
Peruvian  s  aves  at  Panama,  when  on  his  way,  and  had  no  sooner 
reached  his  destined  port  than  he  ,.ursued  a  hke  course,  upon  tie 
representations  of  some  native  chiefs.  When  his  character  and 
mission  were  made  public,  the  whole  community  was  in  a  ferment 

sw  tt  if ,  ^"'^'"'7  '"^  ^'""  ^"'^"^^^^^  -^^^^  ^he  mining  interest 
;  I  u    '^''""'-f  ^^'^^"t  to  be  curtailed  to  such  an  extent,  that  ruin 
stared   hem  ,n  the  face,  and  a  general  determination  was  ;vinced  to 
resist  the  execution  of  the  new  civil  code 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


250 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


Gonzalo  Pizarro,  who  had  been  for  some  time  living  in  compara- 
tive retirement,  devoting  his  attention  to  the  opening  and  working 
of  the  newly-discovered  silver  mines  of  Potosi,  was  now  called  upon 
to  head  the  malcontents.  Disappointed  ambition,  mercenary  inter- 
est in  preserving  the  old  order  of  things,  and  fear  of  being  held 
responsible  for  his  share  in  the  former  feud,  combined  to  incline 
him  in  favour  of  the  insurgent  faction,  and  he  accordingly  proceeded 
to  Cuzco,  accompanied  by  a  few  trusty  companions-in-arms,  and 
provided  with  abundant  funds — the  result  of  his  successful  mining 
operations.  At  Cuzco  he  was  enthusiastically  received,  and  was 
proclaimed  "Procurator-General  of  Peru"  and  "Captain  General," 
with  express  authority  to  raise  and  command  a  military  force. 

Blasco  Nunez  was  received  at  the  capital  with  all  outward  cere- 
monials of  respect,  by  his  predecessor,  Vaca  de  Castro,  and  by  the 
city  officials.  He  publicly  announced  his  determination  to  enforce 
the  new  code,  but  at  the  same  time  agreed  to  cooperate  with  the 
inhabitants  of  Peru  in  procuring  its  repeal.  He  appeared  to  be  little 
aware  of  the  formidable  nature  of  the  preparations  at  Cuzco,  under 
the  superintendence  of  Gouzalo  Pizarro,  or  of  the  feebleness  of  the 
empty  title  of  viceroy,  unsupported  by  the  loyalty  of  the  great  mass 
of  the  population. 

The  latter  chief,  having  organized  and  equipped  an  army  of  about 
four  hundred  Spanish  soldiers,  with  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery 
brought  by  Indian  vassals  over  the  mountains  from  Guamanga,  and 
a  great  body  of  native  auxiliaries,  marched  out  of  Cuzco,  and  took 
the  road  towards  Lima.  The  first  occurrences  in  his  march  were 
rather  disheartening.  In  raising  his  force  he  had  held  out  as  one 
essential  object  the  holding  in  check  the  belligerent  natives  under 
the  wandering  inca,  Munco,  whose  noble  and  warlike  spirit  had 
never  yet  been  subdued  by  the  prowess  or  craft  of  his  adversaries. 
He  had  also  professed  the  utmost  loyalty  to  the  crown,  and  an  ardent 
desire  for  a  pacific  arrangement  of  the  existing  difficulties.  The 
death  of  Manco,  who  was  slain  by  a  straggling  party  of  the  "Men 
of  Chili,"  then  in  hiding  among  the  Indians,  removed  one  avowed 
pretext  for  raising  an  army,  and  the  unscrupulous  manner  in  which 
the  ambitious  leader  seized  upon  the  public  funds  in  equipping  the 
troops,  disabused  his  followers  in  respect  to  his  loyalty  and  freedom 
fi-nin  a  desire  of  personal  aggrandizement.  Numerous  desertions  took 
place  among  those  whose  hearts  failed  them  at  the  thought  of  open 
rebellion  against  legitimate  authority.     But  as  he  approached  Lima, 


THE   CONQUEST  AND  IIISTOKY   or  PEBU. 


251 


Ever,  thing  »ee  Jl ^.tt;  elt  ^A  ™  "'"^  ™''''^- 
plele  the  ruin  of  NuSe..    TlieTnet  .en  "  ''A?"'''?"  '"''  '»™- 
and  arbitrary.    Upon  a  v-^J^S^Tl      j  ?      '  ™°''°'='  ""^  ™1' 

he  threw  Va'ea  de 'cXrrnl"ete::"dr'":™  °^ '--''-^^ 
jealousy,  alienated  othera  who  mi^, T  '  7  ^'™^ '"'"' '"  ^ia 

.0  his  «  One  S  IhL  nam  f  CarraTrl  *"°*  """""^'^ 
slain  in  the  heat  of  an  alte'rXn  wrfch^l^'  tZ  "  "T"  ^"^ 
ence.     To  add  to  the  nernlexilv  n»,l       i,  P"™**  """fe'- 

.he  Judges  of  the  AnS  trio  we  et^tdTh™'  "'."^  f™^' 
emment,  having  arrived  at  ,u  °  1  V?  ""''"""' Sov- 

.e.s.e.,  and  iLguedtthethS  l;^.^-^'  "^ 

in  h^™:  n'„  :r„tnThe"7°''"'"''^»'' f-""«  - -"^™« 

for  an  aban  lorentTthe  "!"  "•'f"""''  °^''"-"™'  i^-^-^orfers 

capital  and  ther^ven  tog   oulrl:  tT\'°  ^™f' °-    ''"^^ 
forees  of  the  insursents  mial7^    ""^^','*  devastated,  that  the 

Cepe'd^  one  of X  own  „2b!r""""™''  """  *=  P''"^'»"^  "' 

o/a\7getiirs.a«,;rrsi;trr^i '""™'-  »*  "^  --^ 

advanee,  to  prepare  for  hu  °  °°'""  f"' '"  ''•'""<"'  f™*.  i" 

».ry  eo„;me„'ed  ope«i„„  w  ^  r""  """  ""'  "'•'■•  ''''''  ™''- 
Kveral  of  the  desTrLTsfrl^ir  "*  °'"  "'"^  P""'"«  '"  *"* 
i"  the  eapital     SuT^!!^   v  ""'^''  """^  '""''  «»'^™  "f"?" 

n>inds  of  the  iule  and  ,  ,""  "V"^  "  ""'"'■•'■'  ""«"  i»  '1- 
the  eonoueror  b,  !!;i™  "^  i""™'"^  ">  ^l'™"''"'  «"'  "'rath  of 
aimed.  GoTio  en"  "  ,  "h  ■'  '"""  '''■"  ""=  "»'"°"  •■"  "'""h  he 
and  was  f„™  yt  ,  .^  ""'' ,  "7"'  »^"°  -^  -•-"'ony, 
f"rthereom„,„„i„„Z  ,      ,1?       '  "■'""''   ''"  "■»'  '"  '"''^  ""til 

His  aceession  ™  Si  bv  "i      ^T"'"'  '"""  "'«  «''»"'■'"  -»«■ 
'""ted  by  the  inhabitants  with  general  rejoicing. 


If         • 


252 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


CHAPTEH   I. 


FORCES   RAISED  BY  NUNEZ.— HIS  FLIGHT  NORTHWARD,— DECISIVE 
BATTLE  NEAR  QUITO. — DEATH   OP   THE   VICEROY.  —  SUFREM- 

ACY  OF   PIZARRO. MISSION  OF  PEDRO  DE  LA  GASCA. — 

HIS  POLITIC  PROCEEDINGS. — BATTLE  OF  HUA- 
aiNA.  —  PIZARRO  AT   CUZCO. 

Although  the  new  governor  was  now  apparently  at  the  summit 
of  his  expectations,  circumstances  speedily  arose  to  embarrass  him 
and  call  for  the  exertion  of  all  his  skill  and  energy  to  maintain  his 
position.     Yaca  de  Castro,  by  the  assistance  of  the  captain  of  the 
vessel  on  board  which  he  was  confined,  contrived  to  make  his  es- 
cajie.     The  result  of  this  proceeding  did  not,  however,  materially 
aftect  the  interests  of  the  governor.     The  fugitive  reached  Spain 
only  to  be  thrown  into  prison  upon  various  charges  of  mal-adminis- 
tration  in  his  colonial  office.     After  twelve  years  of  imprisonment 
his  innocence  was  finally  recognised,  and  he  was  raised  to  an  hon- 
ourable position  in  old  Spain.     An  active  enemy  to  the  new  govern- 
ment of  Peru  yet  remained  to  be  crushed.     Blasco  ]Sruiiez,°by  the 
favour  of  Alvarez,, one  of  the  judges  who  had  been  commissioned 
to  conduct  him  to  Spain,  returned  to  Peru,  and,  proclaiming  Gonzalo 
and  his  adherents  rebels  and  traitors,  commenced  the  enlistment  of 
forces  for  the  reassertion  of  his  own  legitimate  supremacy. 

Ilis  quarters  were  successively  at  Tumbez,  Quito,  and  San  Mio-uel 
from  which  latter  town  he  moved  precipitately  upon  the  approach 
of  Pizarro  with  a  superior  force.  Sebastian  Benalcazar,  the  com- 
mander at  Popayan,  had  communicated  his  determination  to  the 
viceroy  to  lend  his  assistance  for  the  support  of  the  royal  cause,  and 
towards  the  district  under  that  officer's  jurisdiction  Nunez  conducted 
his  little  band,  with  Pizarro  and  his  forces  in  hot  pursuit.  The 
sufferings  of  either  army  during  this  terrible  retreat,  in  which  every 
imnginablc  difficulty,  from  the  inhospitable  nature  of  the  country 
traversed,  was  added  to  the  horrors  of  war,  would  have  disheart- 
ened troops  less  accustomed  to  danger  and  privation  than  the  old 
Spanish  adventurers.  Nunez  made  his  way  to  Popayan,  and 
Pizarro,  after  having  followed  his  enemy  into  the  territory  of 
Benalcazar,  without  having  been  able  to  draw  him  into  a  decisive 


THE  CONQUEST  AND  HISTORY  OF  PERU. 


253 


conflict,  returned  to  Quito  to  await  his  approach  with  the  expected 
reinforcements. 

By  a  feigned  retreat  from  the  ancient  capital,  Pizarro  succeeded 
in  deceiving  his  opponent,  and  in  drawing  him  from  his  distant 
place  of  security.  Just  without  the  city,  on  the  18th  of  January, 
1546,  the  fate  of  the  viceroy  was  decided  by  a  final  engagement. 
He  fell,  fighting  bravely,  and  his  followers  being  slain  or  dispersed, 
none  remained  to  dispute  the  supremacy  of  the  popular  usurper, 
Gonzalo  was  possessed  of  many  qualities  calculated  to  secure  the 
favour  of  the  colonists.  He  was  in  every  respect  a  man  of  the  age, 
and  his  gallant  and  chivalrous  bearing,  combined  with  the  remem- 
brance of  his  share  in  the  conquest,  aroused  the  admiration  of  a 
people  accustomed  to  look  upon  military  excellence  as  the  grand 
essential  for  a  ruler. 

An  insurrection,  headed  by  Diego  Centeno,  in  the  southern 
provinces,  having  been  crushed  by  the  efficient  and  unscrupulous 
Carbajal,  nearly  simultaneously  with  his  successes  tt  the  north, 
Pizarro  was  for  the  time  complete  arbiter  of  the  de  ^nies  of  Peru. 
He  maintained  his  position  with  great  pomp  and  magnificence,  yet 
in  the  midst  of  his  success  and  popularity,  must  have  brooded 
with  no  little  anxiety  over  the  probable  results  of  the  reception  of 
intelligence  respecting  his  movements  at  the  Spanish  court.  Car- 
bajal openly  advised  him  to  throw  aside  all  thoughts  of  obtaining 
favour  and  countenance  from  Spain,  and  to  depend  upon  force  alone 
for  the  retention  of  his  power. 

Unwilling  to  hazard  such  an  extreme  measure,  Gonzalo  neverthe- 
less took  the  greatest  precautions  to  guard  against  the  entry  into  his 
dominions  of  any  emissary  from  the  royal  court,  and  prepared  to 
send  an  ambassador  to  Spain,  charged  with  the  vindication  of  his 
conduct  and  the  request  ofgconfirmation  in  his  government. 

When  news  of  the  rebellion  arrived  in  Spain,  Charles  V.,  afler 
deliberate  consultation  with  the  principal  officers  of  his  kingdom 
determined  upon  essaying  gentle  means  for  the  restoration  of  his 
colony  to  allegiance.  A  learned  and  sagacious  ecclesiastic,  named 
Pedro  de  la  Gasca,  was  nominated  by  the  council  as  commissioner 
to  settle  the  affiiirs  of  Peru,  and  such  confidence  was  reposed  in  him 
by  the  emperor,  that  he  was  armed  with  the  most  unlimited  discre- 
tionary powers.  As  the  first  essential  to  a  cordial  reception  on  the 
part  of  the  colonists,  he  was  authorized  to  revoke  the  unpopular 
decrees  which  liad  caused  the  ruin  of  Nunez,  and  to  grant  complete 


254 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


pardon  to  all  offenders,  particularly  those  concerned  in  the  insur- 
rection  Under  the  title  of  "President  of  the  Eoyal  Audience,"  he 
was  in  effect  clothed  with  all  the  powers  of  royalty,  being  responsible 
only  to  the  Spanish  court. 

_    When  Gasca  arrived  in  the  New  World,  in  July,  1546,  and  received 
mtelligence  of  Pizarro's  complete  supremacy,  he  employed  the  most 
judicious  and  artful  policy  to  gain  over  the  people  before  making  an 
open  demonstration.    In  accordance  with  his  own  wishes  and  advice 
he  came  without  any  military  force;  he  made  no  ostentatious  display 
of  authority ;  but  relying  upon  the  loyalty  natural  to  the  Spaniard 
and  holding  forth  the  royal  promises  of  amnesty  and  protection,  he 
ca  ed  on  all  true  subjects  of  the  empire  to  join  him  in  a  peaceful 
settlement  of  the  disturbed  affairs  of  the  colony.     Despite  Pizarro's 
caution    he  succeeded  in  distributing  missives  and  proclamations 
throughout  the  principal  cities,  and  occupied  himself  in  the  mean 
time  in  gaming  over  those  officials  to  whom  he  could  obtain  access 
Uernan  Mexia,  the  commandant  at  Nombre  de  Dios, -received  the 
royal  commissioner  and  espoused  his  cause.     The  next  effort  was  to 
Avin  the  favour  and  assistance  of  Hinojosa,  the  governor  of  Panama 
at  which  port  the  Peruvian  fleet  then  lay.  ' 

Gasca  proceeded  thither  in  person,  and  although  at  first  unable 
to  overcome  the  scruples  of  the  governor,  had  opportunity  to  open 
direct  communication  with  Pizarro,  and  to  further  the  extension  of 
his  own  influence.  The  usurper  would  listen  to  no  proposals  which 
did  not  favour  his  own  retention  of  supremacy.  He  sent  his  reply 
by  one  of  his  most  trust-worthy  adherents,  Lorenzo  de  Aldana  who 
was  commissioned  to  represent  to  the  Spanish  court  the  state  of  the 
country,  the  existing  quiet  in  the  province,  and  the  satisfaction  of 
the  inhabitants  at  their  condition  and  prospects,  should  the  governor 
be  confirmed  in  his  powers  by  the  emperor. 

Arriving  at  Panama,  Aldana  had  audience  with  the  commissioner 
and  was  so  awed  by  the  extent  of  his  legitimate  authority,  and 
struck  by^his  wisdom  and  moderation,  that  he  speedily  abandoned 
his  master  s  cause,  and  joined  the  partisans  of  Gasca.  Hinojosa  and 
the  principal  naval  commanders  at  Panama  followed  this  example 
and  on  the  19th  of  November,  1546,  the  whole  fleet  was  puW^ 
and  formally  placed  at  the  disposal  of  Gasca,  and  its  officers;  receiv- 
ing anew  their  commissions  from  his  hands,  took  oaths  of  obh^ation 
to  the  crown.  ° 

The  president's  course  was  now  plain.     He  began  to  collect  forces 


THE   OONCUESI   ANB  HISTOEV  O,  PERU.  ^j. 

for  open  hctiMe^  ushg  y,  „„|i„ij^3  ° 

™,„g  fortunes  of  the  ro.al  party.    Jthe  »,„thern  Z  „^e    Dieto 

f„.  acco^ioa  to  hU  force  f„™  .he'^r^udt  Xlr/rr 
sequences  o  „dhermg  to  the  popular  ruler  i„  hi.  co  "l«  with  the 
crown,  or  who  now  dared  for  the  first  tim^  t„  .i      7 

.nets,  he  posted  himself  by  Lake  Titi^I  "'  '"^^  """■ 

Pizarro's  chief  counsellors  and  offloers  m  fl,:.  „    ■  j 

Z    H7u  ^  "  'coadjutors  of  the  unfortunate  NuOez     The 

fa.  of  these,  generally  as  prudent  in  council  as  savage  an"  Lorse 
less  m  war,  advised  compliance  with  the  roval  „ffi.,      ■       ., 
feeling  himself,  perhaps,  to'o  deeply  irrjl^^^^^^^j;^:^ 
death  of  he  viceroy  (especially  when  considered  in  XencelTis 
own  posmon  under  the  rule  of  that  olHcer,)  to  hope  for  a  share  in  til 

=^^r;s;:fT«^:lrrhTmn^^^^^^^^^ 

^d  hazardous  cou.e:  he  theretrdetted  ht  Z:j1Z-^Z 
the  arming  and  recruiting  of  his  diminished  forces  a.  the  caS 

comrnd'tf  rfriefe-mC'lM-^  T'  ''^•^'- 
Lima,  and  marched  to  tl  ^  T  ?1^  t,"'    H™  """"":  '"'" 

capitaland  fts™  nit^w  rZlT'"'  ''  *°  '"'""'■'•■'"''"f  «1- 
still  greater  enthJ^ltair hi  Zdtrrr'  "*°~'  '"^ 

F  tne   mountain  passes  with  a  vastly  superior   force. 


256 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HI8T0EY. 


That  staunch  loyalist  was  too  well  aware  of  his  advantage  to  allow 
the  enemy  to  escape  from  the  toils  by  which  he  was  surrounded 
He  would  listen  to  nothing  but  an  unconditional  surrender,  offering 
however,  his  personal  influence  to  propitiate  the  clemency  of  the 
government  in  behalf  of  those  who  should  lay  down  their  arms 
Pizarro,  therefore,  collected  all  his  energies  for  a  desperate  and 
decisive  struggle. 

Near  the  small  town  of  Huarina,  by  Lake  Titicaca,  he  was  met  by 
Centeno  on  the  26th  of  October,  1547.  The  latter  was  in  command 
of  about  a  thousand  men,  while  Pizarro's  whole  force  was  less  than 
five  hundred.  When  the  two  armies  joined  battle,  the  cavalry  of 
the  royalists  completely  overpowered  and  routed  that  of  their  oppo- 
nents, and  the  fortune  of  the  day  seemed  for  the  time  decided  in 
their  favour.  Carbajal,  however,  maintained  his  position  with  the 
little  band  of  musqueteers,  and  having  received  and  successfully 
repelled  the  charge  of  Centeno's  infantiy,  was  prepared  to  oppose 
the  attack  of  the  formidable  body  of  cavalrv.  After  various  disor- 
derly and  futile  attempts  to  break  the  squares  into  which  the  enemy 
were  formed,  and  after  sustaining  heavy  loss  from  the  constant  fire 
kept  up  from  within  the  protecting  lines  of  spearmen,  the  royalists 
were  thrown  into  utter  confusion,  and  were  driven  from  the  field. 

Elated  by  so  brilliant  and  decisive  a  victory,  and  justly  deeming 
that  the  prestige  of  the  achievement  would  reassure  the  minds  of 
those  who  at  heart  favour^^d  his  c.t^ase,  Pizarro  abandoned  his  inten- 
tion of  seeking  an  asylunp.  in  Chili,  and  marched  to  Cuzco  He  was 
received  with  enthusiasm  by  the  inhabitants,  and  having  taken  up 
his  quarters  in  the  city,  he  resolved  to  await  the  arrival  of  rein- 
forcements from  the  neighbouring  districts,  and  to  strike  only  where 
a  favourable  opportunity  might  present,  or  when  he  should  be  com- 
pelled by  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 


THE   CONQUEST  AND  IIISTOEY  OF 


PERU. 


26'/ 


CHAPTEH   II. 

CAUTIOUS   MOVEMENTS  OF   0A8CA.-HI8    MARCH   TO  CUZCO 
BLOODLESS    VICTORY    AT    XAQUIir  A  on .  v »        I  CU/,CO.-- 

rARBATAT  awtT^         ■^^'^^^^aouana.— execution  op 

OP    OASCA        ll\'^^'-''^^^  ADMINISTRATION 
OP    GASCA.— SUBSEQUENT   DISORDERS  — THR 
COLONIAL    SYSTEM.-THE  MITA    AND    BE 
PARTIMIENTO.— INSURRECTION  OP  1780. 

..d  .„  whosa  judgment  ha  sabmitted  in  n,u^rTletZJ: 

engaged  in  gathering  fresh  adventurers  to  air!  in  *l        f  ^ 

his  conquests  in  Chili  venturers  to  aid  in  the  extension  of 

The  followers  of  Pi  "ar^  S     .  "  T'^  "="  ^'"Sularly  obviated, 
with  a  .uperi^^!  :::U  tlHt  f'f  %T"' °'""'™*"« 

ft.s  o.a.^p.  op.^ waa  .he  faiehle.  Jpeda  X,  Il'-^^T^t 


1 


258 


THK  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  JIiaTORY. 


advance  of  his  troops,  suddenly  put  spurs  to  liis  horse,  and  notwith- 
standing a  hot  pursuit,  niade  his  way  in  safety  to  the  enemy, 

A  complete  panic  and  confusion  presently  ensued:  the  army  of 
Gonzalo  was  disi)orscd  without  a  battle,  and  the  rebellious  chief 
delivered  himself  up  a  prisoner.  Those  of  his  followers  who  feared 
at  the  last  moment  to  trust  to  the  mercy  of  the  president,  scattered 
in  various' directions,  and  sought  safety  in  flight.  His  old  and  faith- 
ful lieutenant,  Carbajal,  was  seized  by  some  of  hia  own  party,  and 
carried  captive  to  the  enemy's  camp.  This  veteran  chief  was  no  less 
than  eighty-four  years  old,  but  although  his  body  was  enfeebled  by 
the  infirmities  of  age,  his  mind  retained  all  its  original  energy  and 
stern  determination.  When  condemned  to  the  disgraceful  death  of 
a  traitor,  he  manifested  no  emotion,  but  submitted  to  his  fate  with 
the  utmost  apparent  indifference,  maintaining  to  the  last  the  vein  of 
dry,  coarse  humour  which  was  ever  habitual  to  him.  The  most 
remarkablo  circumstance  attendant  upon  his  execution,  considerin<' 
the  age  in  which  he  lived,  was  his  refusal  to  make  confession,  or 
to  receive  ghostly  consolation  from  the  priests.  He  asseverated  that 
he  had  nothing  on  his  conscience  except  his  remissness  in  leaving  a 
debt  of  a  half-real  unpaid  to  a  shopkeeper  of  Seville.  While  behig 
drawn  in  a  hurdle  to  the  fatal  .spot,  "the  priest  who  went  with  him 
exhorted  him  to  recommend  himself  to  God,  and  to  say  the  Pater 
Koster  and  the  Ave  Marin^  and  they  .say  that  he  said,  'Pater  Noster' 
and  'Ave  Maria,'  and  that  he  would  not  speak  another  word," 

Gonzalo  Pizarro  also  perished  by  the  hands  of  the  executioner 
but  without  the  circumstances  of  indignity  which  attended  the  death 
of  his  lieutenant.  He  spent  the  short  interval  between  his  con- 
demnation and  death  in  devout  exercises,  and  met  his  fate  with  such 
calm  intrepidity  that  a  strong  feeling  of  sympathy  was  excited  in  the 
breasts  of  the  stern  and  rude  soldiery  in  attendance.  The  recollection 
of  the  important  part  enacted  by  him  during  the  war  of  the  Conquest 
was  also  remembered  with  respect  and  gratitude  by  those  whose 
prosperity  had  been  secured  by  the  overthrow  of  the  ancient  dynasty, 

A  number  of  Pizarro's  inferior  officers  were  also  put  to  death ;  and 
banishment,  confiscation  of  estates,  and  the  fate  of  the  galley-.slave, 
sternly  awarded  to  others,  served  to  convince  the  nation  that  the 
new  government,  if  mild  and  clement  to  the  loyal  or  submissive, 
could  execute  rigorous  justice  upon  offenders. 

The  manner  in  which  Gasca  reduced  the  unsettled  aflfliirs  of  the 
country  to  order  and  system;    his  cautious  and  conciliatory,  but 


THE00N,UKSTAND„I8T0KV0KPKRU.  259 

eflective  legislation ;  and  his  e/Torts  in  behalf  of  t>,n    .  i       • 

of  the  soil,  gained  him  universal  respec       Wi  ^     ^^'''"      ""'"'' 
for  the  acquisition  of  wealth  and  Tn     \  '"'^'"^  opp,.rt.Mnty 

personal  ambition,  ho  sZ    on"f  fo     h       T'"^\''  "^"""-^  ^- 
Ltted  to  his  chlrgeanTfrr'thth  '/''"' '"'°"^'=''"^- 

crown.     When  his  m  ssTon  waV^m  ',"1  '"^^'""^^^  °^  ^'"^ 

reiinqu.hedhisves;r:;:;e^;.:":— ^^^^^ 

large  sum  of  mL;;::  e^^t^^^rt ll^^^^^^^  ^ 

tinued  tribute  to  the  rojal  treasury.  long-d.scon- 

Ilis  distinguished  services  and  uneonnllpri  cnir  7     •  i 
■their  appropriate  reward,  in  «ecurL  tie  "SI  u'fh"'      "''  "''^ 
and  the  favour  of  the  emperor     Hp  1  ^'''^Y'"  f '^'^  countrymen 

iJurmg  the  long  continuance  of  Spanish  rnlo  in    A        • 
enactment  respecting  trade  and  infercou  s  ° "  H  ^f     "'l''^^  ''''^^ 

a  co„.i„„a,  J,:,  riir:: : ;;  :r:r,;?^r'r '^•"'  "■'" 

"^Uves.    By  a  regular  conscription,  called  ,l,e  ..Jri..,,"  one«™  ,h 


200 


TIIK  I'KOI'LK'S   BOOK  OF   1I18T0KV. 


of  the  Indian  jxipulation,  from  the  ngoof  ciglitoon  to  llfty,  wiw  con- 
fltantly  kept  cinployod  in  tlio  ininos.  Tho  term  of  Hcrvico  for  eiich 
division  wiw  noiniimlly  Hix  rnontliH,  altliongh  fiwiuontly  oxtondcd  • 
and  HO  wvcro  waa  tlio  labour  enforced,  and  bo  influnicientthe  Hupport 
l)rov»4led  by  their  Uiak-iniwterH,  that  a  largo  niiyority  of  the  lal)onr('i\s 
are  said  to  have  periwlied  before  the  expiration  of  a  Hingk)  period  of 
Hervico.  The  intrtiduction  of  spirituous  liquors  also  proved  as  diHiw- 
trous  aa  in  nil  other  portions  of  America,  to  the  native  population- 
and  from  the  combined  eflects  of  this  destructivo  agent,  of  labour  in 
the  mines,  and  of  that  deadly  pcatilenco  the  small-pox,  the  deercaso 
of  the  Indian  inhabitants  of  IVru,  during  the  two  centuries  succood- 
ing  the  Concpiest,  is  computed  by  millions. 

Olio  grievous  form  of  imposition  practised  upon  the  luitives,  waa 
that  known  as  the  system  of  tho  rcpanimiento.  This  was  a  Hpecioa 
of  monopoly,  by  which  tho  Si)ani8h  governors,  or  eorregidora  of  tlio 
dilVcrcnt  ditllricts  woro  empowered  to  furnish  tho  Indians  with  Kii- 
ropoan  commodities.  These  they  were  compelled  to  receive,  and  to 
pay  for  at  cxhorbitant  prices,  whether  in  want  of  tho  articles  fur- 
iiislit'd  or  not.  It  is  .said  that  the  })lan  waa  first  devi.sed  with  the 
benevolent  intention  of  securing  tho  ignorant  natives  from  tiio 
deceptions  practised  by  unprincipled  traders,  but  that  the  temptation 
to  take  advantage  of  their  exclusive  privilege  })rovod  too  strong  for 
the  integrity  of  those  to  whom  the  charge  was  committed,  until  tho 
whole  system  became  i)ne  of  barefaced  frauil  and  oppression. 

In  addition  to  the  great  wrongs  sanctioned  by  law,  tho  Indian.*) 
had  none,  or  tho  most  insuirieient  redress,  for  every  sijccies  of 
enormity  which  was  privately  indicled  upon  them  by  tho  usuri)crs 
of  the  soil.  For  more  than  two  centuries  they  laboured  under  this 
juaupportablo  tyranny  without  any  combined  cfibrt  to  obtain  thoir 
freedom.  An  unsuccessful  revolt  took  place,  indeed,  in  1741,  amomr 
.several  of  the  dilTercnt  tribes.  At  Uust,  in  the  year  1780,  the  cae'que 
of  Tungasuca,  Jos6  Gabriel  Condorcanqui,  claiming  descent  from. 
Tupac  Amaru,  the  son  of  the  Inca  Manco,  stood  forth  as  tho  cham- 
pion of  his  people.  Multitudes  of  tho  natives  thronged  to  enlist 
under  his  command,  and  in  the  battles  which  ensued,  displayed  nil 
the  energy  and  courage  of  their  anccstons.  !^^ore  experienced  in 
European  warfare  than  these,  they  were  not  subdued  without  mucli 
bloodshed.  The  very  women  took  part  in  these  contests,  and  evinced 
surprising  bravery  and  determination.  The  death  of  their  leader, 
who  was  taken  i)risonor,  and,  together  with  his  wife  and  children, 


w 


THE  CONQUEHT  AND   HISTORY   OF  PERU.  gfll 

put  t.,  ,lo«th  with  barlmrous  cruelty,  gave  no  check  to  the  rebellion 
A  Kucnliu  warluro  wuH  still  waged  with  unrcMutting  perncvcn    c 
and  a  nephew  of  Condorcan.,ui,  named  Andron,  collected  a  s  ./lie 
force  to  lH.Hct  t  e  town  of  Sorata.     The  place  wan  defended  by 
cart  en   c.ubanlcM.ent,  behin<l  which    artillery  wan   Htationed/To 
efloct  a  breach   a     uge  body  of  water  w«h  collected  by  .lan.H  upon 
an  adjonung   he.ght,  and   suddenly  let  loose  upon  t^.c  defc.   ch 
in-ough  the  open.ngthuH  n.ade,  the  Indian  wa/riorH  poure<l  w i t  i 
the  ut,nost  fury   and  revenged  the  murder  of  their  inea  by  an  in.lin- 
ennnnu  e  Hiaughtor.     It ,«  «aid  that  of  the  twenty  thousaml  inhabit- 
an^  of  the  town,  none  of  the  males  were  spared  except  the  priesr 
Notwthstandmg  th  h  brilliant  success,  the   India,  comma  dl 
were  not  .sulhcently  skdled  in  the  science  of  war  or  government  to 
take  advantage  of  their  position.     They  were   betn^c       Z  t,^ 
hands  o  the  enemy  by  some  of  their  own  people  who  had  been  wo^ 
over  by  br.bes  and  the  Spaniards  speedily  nistablished  their   n^" 
over  the  country.     In  consequence  of  this  rebellion,  howevir  Ihe 
odious  mor.opoly  of  the  r.partimicnto  was  done  away  ^ith 


CHAPTEB   in. 

COMMKNCKMKNT  OP   THK   REVOLUTION.-r NVASIOX   BY    SAN 

MARTIN.-OCMMiPATrON   OF   M  M  A.-I  ND  E  P  KN  DENCB 

PR0CLAIMKI)--REVER8E8   OP   THE   PATRIOTS.— 

ARRIVAL   OF   BOLIVAR   IN   PERU. 

T.r.  great  struggle  for  independence  in  the  Spanish  provinces  of 

South  America  hud  l.en  elsewhere,  for  the  most  part,  crowned  wi^ 

suceess  before  Peru  became  the  theatre  for  importan   acXn      H    e 

he  Spaniards  ma.ntained  po.sse.ssion  of  their  last  stronghold  upo' 

the  contment  and,  but  for  a.ssistance  from  the  neighbou  h  «  S 

:;S:  !:•  ;:r;i''^^^  T' '-''''  ^^^^  -^^-^^  ^  ~  'f 

ovcniirowmg  the  vieeroyal  government. 

from  Bn^T  ^''""\''  '^''  ^^^'^^"^--'  >"  October,  1810.  an  army 

' ,       "        ''"  '  ^"-'-  """  gamed  inifortant  v  dories  over  tlia 

rojal,.„s  a,  C„u,garU>  and  Tupiaza.    Thisofflcer  took  up  his  quartet 


2&J, 


'I'll  !■;  I'lioi- 1.  K',s  UdoK  ()  K  II  isi'oii  V 


Wl 


til  a  I 


oirti  (if  Ml    I'  lour  tliou.siful  men,  jit  tlni  oiitlot  of  l,iil<i^  'I 


ili- 


cuoii,  mill    inaiiitiiiiinl   ponscHHiiui  oi'  tlic  (ioiKiucnHl   liTiitory   until 


till!  I'ollow  iiij^  siiinuu'i,  u  Ih'm   I 


wiiw  ill  iiirii  tloloiitnl  by  the  S])aiii,sli 


troops  miller  lio^fiit'i  111',  who  iillaeked  liini  iincxiurtclly  (luring  tl 


g  tlio 


I'ontiiiiiaiK'c  of  a  tru.r.      ihiU'unr'H  iliiliuc  i,s  attribiiteil  in   no  .small 

niotiMure  to  tlif  violcnoeand  recklewne.ss  of  liiseivil  asHociatc,  Cawtt'lli. 

tiu'  rnonlli  of  Auj^iisl,  1S2(),  indtpemlciu'c  having  boon  cstab- 


li.HlH.l  in  riiili,  an  army  ol' bctwcoii  fun r  and  livo  ll 


aH.Monit)lo(l 


lousand  inuii  wuh 
III  \'al|iaiai.so  lor  tho  |iiirpoH(<  oC  lircaking  up  of  llu'  royal- 
ist .strongholds  ol  iVni,  and  «.|'  IVe.'ing  that  provimv  IVoiu  the  domin. 
ion  of  Spain.  The  eommand  was  liel.l  hy  (ieiieral  .Joho  <le  8au 
Martin,  the  <Mnaneipator  ol"  C^hili,  to  whoso  oxi-rtioiis  the  e.xpeditiou 
was  inainly  alliihulable.  Siieh  v».s.sels  of  war  as  e,,idd  be  proeuivd, 
were  lilted  out  and  plaeed  under  eommand  of  Lord  t'oehrami.  Jn  iho 
month  Ibllowing,  the  whole  loree  was  landed  aiuhpiarlered  at  Tiseo. 
oil  the  Teruvian  eoa.sl,  without  opposition  i'roin  the  royalist  I 


wliieh  retreated  to  I 


orces. 


■ima,  about  one  hundred  miles  northward. 


All  attempt  at  liegoliatioii  having  lailed,  ll 


le  army  of  invasion  w 


lUS 


again  in  motion  in  the  month  oj'Oetol 


ler, 


'riu>  naval  loree  a 


lu'liored 


/onl 


Coel 


iraiie, 


otV  Callao,  where,  on  the  night  of  November  f.lh, 
eommandmg  in  per.son,  sueeeeded  in  eutting  out  and  eai)turiiig  tho 
Spanish  iVigate  Ksmeralda,  whieh  lav  under  tho  protection  ol'  tho 
gnus  ol'  the  I'orl,  and  in  I'ompaiiy  with  a  number  of  smaller  armed 
vessels.  'I'liis  o.xploii  is  eonsidored  as  one  of  the  luo.st  brilliant 
aohievemenis  of  the  kind  on  reeord. 

The  main  body  of  Chilian  troojm  wa.s  traii.sported  to  Iluara,  about 
seventy-live  miles  north  of  tho  eapital,  while  a  d 


oral 


Ar 


1  vision,  under  (ieii- 


Aronales,  was  maivlied  into  the  interior,  with  the  intention  of 


elV-etiiig  a  iuiieii 

th 

Irish  ollicer  C 

every  day  brighter.     They  guiiicil  large  a'eoessions 


>n  with  the  prineipal  force  by  land.     On  the  routo 
IS  commaiuler  defeated  a  superior  Ibivc  of  the  rovalist.s,  under  the 


leiicral  O'Reilly.     The  }U'o.sj)ects  of  the  pat 


tl 


lose  of  the  inhabitants  wlio  f 


of 


riots  yrew 


recruits  from 


ivoiired  a  revolution,  and  it  was  pi 


that  tho  great  body  o(  tho  people  hailed  their  arrival  with  tl 
joyful  aiilieipatioiis.     On  the  []d  of  DecemI 
tho  Sfiauish  battalion  of  Numancia,  consist 
Columbians,  joined  the  invaders. 


un 


le  most 


icr,  ail  entire  regiment, 
iiig  in  groat  measure  of 


As  San  Martin,  after 


1 


.iin«,  the  city  was  thrown  into  the  utmost 


iome  months'  delay  at  Iluara,  tidvancod 


ipoti 
confusion.     The  Spanish 


authorities  fuuiui  it  ueoessiu-y  to  evacuate  the  place,  and  the  inhabit- 


r? 


TlIK   CONCiUEHT   AND    H18T0KY   OF  PERU. 


263 


a.itH,  m  tt  goncrul  panic,  .iiul  ui.cortiiin  as  to  what  was  to  take  nluoo 
bcKaii  to  lly  with  their  cllbets  towards  Caliao  an.l  other  places  of 
.Mup,H.mi  Heeurity.  Throi.^lu.ut  tl>e  night  preceding  the  evacuation 
by  the  Spanhsh  troops,  the  narrow  streets  were  nearly  inipaasablo 
from  the  multitude  of  veliicles  in  which  tl",  terrilleil  inhabitants 
wore  convoying  away  their  e/fects.  Captain  Hasil  JIail,  who  was 
upon  the  spot,  says:  "For  an  h<.ur  or  two  uRer  the  viceroy's  do- 
imrtiire,  the  streeUs  were  iiUed  with  fugitives;  ],ut  Uy  mid-day 
scarcely  an  individual  was  to  be  seen;  and  in  the  course  of  the 
afternoon,  I  accompanied  one  of  the  English  merchants  durin-  a 
walk  of  more  than  a  mile  through  the  most  p.^jjulous  part«  of  Lima 
withcutmeeliiig  a  single  individual:  the  doors  were  all  barred  thd 
window-shutters  closed,  and  it  really  seemed  'some  vast  citv  of 
the  dead.'"  '' 

The  old  Marquis  of  Montemir^-.,  who  had  been  left  in  authority 
called  together  the  principal  inhabitant.s,  and  aft.Tsome  er)„,sultation' 
with  the  lussent  of  the  town  council,  an  invitation  was  extended  to 
Han  Martin  to  occupy  the  city,  nominally  for  the  purpo,He  of  j)ro- 
tcctnig  the  inh;a)itants  from  a  suspected  uprising  of  the  slaves  from 
the  Indian  allies  (,f  the  patriots  who  threateiuMl  a  descent  from' with- 
out, and  from  a  lawless  mob  of  the  lower  orders  within  the  walls 
The  general  entered  the  city  on  the  12th  of  .July,  1821,  unaccom- 
]iaiuod  by  his  army,  and  experienced  litth;  difl-iculty  in  satisfying 
the  terrified  inhabitants  as  to  his  good  fuith  and  the  lionesty  of  his 
mtention.s.     All  went  on  prosperously  for  the  cause,  and  on  the  28th 
the  independence  of  Peru  was  formally  proclaimed,  amid  the  great- 
cat  exhibition  of  enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  the  poj)ulace.     On  the 
M  of  the  ensuing  month  San  Martin  assumed  the  title  of  Protector 
of  J'eru. 

No  important  military  movements  took  place  during  a  considerable 
sub.sequent  period,  'i'he  fortress  at  Caliao  remained  in  i)osHession  of 
the  royalists,  whither  the  division  under  Canterac  the  viceroy,  quar- 
tered atXauxa,  was  marched  in  the  latter  part  of  August.  These 
troops  were  soon  afterwards  withdrawn,  and  the  stronghol.l,  left 
under  command  of  General  La  Mar,  capitulated  to  the  protector  on 
the  2lst  of  September.  The  independent  army  remained  at  Lima, 
for  the  most  part  unemployed,  during  a  nundjer  of  months  sub-se- 
quent  to  these  events,  and  their  ju-esence  began  to  be  felt  as  a  burden 
by  "le  inhabitants.  In  April,  1822,  a  severe  reverse  was  felt  in  the 
surprise  and  caj^ture,  by  Canterac,  of  a  very  considerable  body  of 


264 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTOKY. 


the  revolutionary  forces,  at  lea.  More  than  a  thousand  prisoners 
were  taken,  and  a  great  amount  of  arms  and  military  stores  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  rojaliata. 

An  interview  toolc  place  in  the  month  of  July,  of  this  year 
between  the  Protector  and  the  great  champion  of  freedom  in  South 
America,  Bolivar,  then  in  tlie  full  pride  of  success  in  the  northern 
provinces.  The  result  of  the  meeting  was  the  augmentation  of  the 
force  at  Lima  by  two  tliousand  Columbian  troops.  During  San 
Martin's  absence  the  tyranny  of  his  minister,  Monteagudo,  who°mudo 
the  de{)uty  protector,  the  Marquis  of  Truxillo,  a  mere  tool  for  the 
execution  of  his  private  projects,  excited  an  outbreak,  which  was 
only  quelled  by  the  arrest  and  removal  of  the  offending  party. 

In  the  succeeding   montli   the  first   independent   congress  was 
assembled  at  the  capital,  and  San  Martin,  having  resigned  his  author- 
ity,  soon  after  took  his  departure  for  Chili.    Congress  appointed  a 
junta  of  three  persons  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  executive. 
Under  this  administration  the  affairs  of  the  new  republic  fell  into 
great  disorder.     A  miserably  futile  attemi)t,  by  sea  and  land,  against 
the  royalists  in  the  southern  provinces,  created  great  public  discon- 
tent, and  on  the  2Cth  of  February,  1823,  the  principal  officera  of  the 
army,  in  a  remonstrance  to  Congress,  demanded  the  appointment  of 
Colonel  Jose  de  la  Hiva  Aguero  as  president.     After  some  opposition, 
that  body  complied  with  the  proposition,  backed  as  it  was  by  all  the 
real  power  of  the  republic,  and  Eiva  Aguero  was  proclaimed  accord- 
mgly.    General  Santa  Cruz,  a  Peruvian,  and  partly  of  Indian  descent, 
then  second  in  command,  shortly  after,  upon  the  departure  of  Are- 
nalos  for  Chili,  assumed  the  position  of  commander-in-chief  of  the 
army.     A  second  expedition  to  the  southward  against  the  royalists 
of  the  Puvrtos  Intermcdios,  left  the  capital  insufliciently  guarded, 
although  three  thousand  additional  troops  had  been  marched  to  the 
city  by  the  Columbian  general,  Sucre.     Canterac  seized  the  opportu- 
nity to  possess  himself  of  Lima,  and  with  nine  thousand  men,  on  the 
18th  of  June,  er.tered  that  city.     Tlie  patriot  forces  were  insufficient 
to  make  any  effectual  resistance,  and  they  evacuated  the  capital  on 
the  approach  of  the  enemy. 

^  The  Congress,  holding  its  session  at  Callao,  now  invested  General 
Sucre  with  dictatorial  powers.  Upon  the  fortress  at  this  place,  Can- 
terac was  unable  to  make  any  impression,  and  considering  it  useless 
to  imuntain  possession  of  the  capital,  he  withdrew  his  troops  on  the 
17th  of  the  succeeding  month  of  July.     The  division  of  the  patriot 


forces  at  the  south  fared  no  hpUny  ^v,      xi.  .     ,  . 
A  disastrous  and  disorder];  'l^^^^^^^^^^^  Y'  ^"^^^^^  ^*- 

the  almost  entire  dissolution  of  reariv  'llT'^^'^  ^«-^'«d  in 
the  enterprise  of  the  revolution  now  seemed  to  resTunonth"'"''  '". 
of  foreign  assistance,  and  this  wn«.  f^.f.,  *  i  ,  P°"  ^^"^  ''^''^^val 
ivar,  the  liberator  o  Venlreirand  t  "^.'^  "^-  ^'"°"  ^^^■ 
champions  of  freedom  in  Sou  L  a1  "  "^^^^'^^'^S-^i^hed  of  the 

affairs  ofthe  recently  constituted  norfT;  T     '°  ^^^  "'^"^'^^  ^he 
that  he  was  enabled  to  t^r^l  s  Zl^      TT'r'^'''''^'''^^'y^ 
of  the  Peruvian  patriots      L  1  oel^^^        ''"  ''f  """^  ^-^^*'- 
and  entered  Liiil  on  the  ill  TsllZ::?^^^  ^^^^ 
his  i,revious  brilliant  successes  and  th?.r'fi  ,         .T  "^  ^'''^'-^  ^^ 
as  a  general  and  statesman,  give  rLwim/""  '^'  ^"  ^'^  '-^b"'''- 
He  was  received  with  ^rea  reLl^-n"       7     "  *°  '^''  P^*'''^^'^  «^^"«e. 
supreme  power,  both  ^a^Z^'  ""  ^^  °"-  "--^^d  with 


CHAPTEH  I  in. 


I      SUCCESSES  OP  THE  ROYALISTS        if.,,r„ 

at  hi,  removal  from  a.uhorilj,  was  carrvL  „   ?     '^■T"'  '"'"='"»"' 

...t"  oxilo  ll,„,c  .vl,.,  remam,.,!  firm  to  117        °?°™'  ""'"'"S 

A*c.i„„  prccto,.  atr,  blX^rN"  7"'""  ""'"'""• '"' 
avail,  but  by  the  treachery  of  ™?,7i,i,'''8°"""?  1™>""1  <'f  "o 

«™.a.io,,of.oi:i;r^:;:;;:::-:;:;; --"-^ 


2(ifl 


TIIK   TKOl'liK'S   nooK   OF   IIISTOUY. 


sUvto  of  iillairs  only  served  to  cull  forth  the  full  energies  of  the  groat 
genorul.  lie  had  under  his  cotninand  about  ten  thousiiiul  troops, 
the  niiijorify  of  whom  wore  Columbians,  stationed  near  I'ataviica, 
'I'lie  available  foreea  of  the  royalists  were  at  this  periixl  nutiiorieully 
far  aujH'rior  to  those  of  the  j)atriots,  but  confidonee  in  the  triod  abil- 
ities of  their  leader  nu)ro  than  eomi)ensatoil  the  latter  for  their  info- 
rioritv  in  numbers.  "'Phere  was  a  eharm,"  says  Miller,  "in  tlio 
nanui  of  IU)livar,  and  ho  was  looked  u])  to  as  the  only  man  eapablo 
of  saving  tho  republic." 

The  army  of  tho  royalists  was  quartered  nt  Xauxa,  and  no  elVort 
was  made  to  cheek  tho  advance  of  tho  independent  forces  until  they 
had  elVeeted  tho  dangerous  passage  of  tho  mountains,  and  were  in  full 
march  lor  Piuseo,  Great  praise  is  awarded  to  General  Suei'o,  tlio 
chief  of  tho  sUdl",  for  tho  admirable  Ibrothought  and  prudent  precau- 
tions by  which  the  diniculties  of  this  march  were  met  and  safely 
overcome.  An  action,  which,  however,  did  not  become  general,  took 
place  on  the  j)lains  of  .lunin,  in  which  the  patriots  gained  a  decided 
advantage,  further  inerojised  by  numerous  subseciuent  desertions  froiu 
the  eiuMuy. 

lUiIivar  was  at  this  period  unwilling  to  risk  the  chances  of  a  deci- 
sive battle,  and  maile  little  opposition  to  the  retreat  of  Canlcrac  to 
Cuzco.  At  Guanianga  a  numth's  halt  was  made  by  the  patriots.  In 
October,  the  eornn>ander-in-chief,  supposing  that,  on  account  of  tlio 
.reason,  no  present  attempt  would  be  made  by  the  enemy,  returned 
to  the  coast,  having  directed  Sucre  to  take  up  his  quarters  at  Aiula- 
huaylos  and  Abancay.  Contrary  to  Bolivar's  expectations,  tlio 
Sinmish  viceroy,  having  ell'eeted  a  union  of  his  main  divisions  and 
nuule  the  most  strenuous  exertions  to  collect  an  overwhehniiig  force, 
now  reconuueneed  hostilities.  Sucre  was  placed  in  an  embarrassinif 
position:  his  forces  were  greatly  reduced  by  sickness,  privation, 
skirmishes,  and  Indian  hostilities,  but  with  his  usual  militarv  skill 
he  so  ordered  counter  movements  and  retreats  that  the  greatly  supe- 
rior force  of  the  royalists  was  unable  to  attack  him  at  a  disadvantage. 

Ko  general  ongageinent  took  place  until  the  Dth  of  J\>cember, 
when  the  decisive  battle  of  Ayacueho,  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
in  its  details,  and  imjiortant  in  its  results  over  fought  in  South 
America,  gave  a  death-blow  to  Spanish  power  in  Peru.  The  attack 
was  commenced  by  the  royalists,  under  command  of  tho  viceroy. 
Their  numbers  very  considerably  exceeded  those  of  tho  patriots, 
being  set  down  at  over  nine  thousand,  while  those  of  the  latter  fell 


Til  K    CON  (;  II  KM'ii    1  1.  . 

'     '"'  ^^'^  nis'roHY  OKI.KKU.  267 

wliort  of  Hix  thouaand.     It  w»u  i\u   i 

or  the  day  waa  to  ,l..,oido  tirit'V  7'"'"''/'-^  ""  '^'"*  ^'^"  ^"^^uno 
<t  brief  but  inHj.iriting  addros  ,..1  r-'"'"^"''''"'  '*"^'  "^'^'^^'1  ''7 
fouglUwitharu™,tI.n,glnrot  o     <  --'""-dor,  the  ,,atriots 

Aaorudnglobour^sC    H        /;;r^ 
driven  baek  to  tl.e  heights  o  Con  W  i""'  ^^""^  ''"•^^'^^1  ^^"1 

'-^^■''•.  <'-y  I.a.1  taken  a    li^.^r   a    "'T''  ^''"''''  ^"''^•"'>«  ^^>  ''- 

-clvv<.undedaliUlole«sthanono  tand  1^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  ^f  "  '^'"^■'' 
renamed  of  his  seattered  forces  C-    Z  ";'^'^' ->"^"«tc><l  what 

outnund)ered,  and  must  be  uSil  v  ^'"'"'"'^ '^'"' ^'«  ^"«  "^vv 
cr  .ho  day,  tllen^bro  ho  rode  S  •;"^""""\  '^^'^"^«  *'-  «'-« 
--t,  and  in  the  tent  of  t^c  1^^  V  '"  ''"'"'''  '^"-'"i" 
whole  ren.aining  anny  bee-uno  "'^'"'^  *'  -^l>'t"l'^tion.     U  .s 

tl.e  capituIution°dl  Z  ^ii^'i^r^'  "  7"' '  ^"'^  ^^^  the  tenns  of 
.surrender.  These  re,ai«  t^^  /"^  '"  /  T'  -^'"^  "''^^  ^"""^  *<> 
at  Cu.eo  and  Are,uipa,  S  .r^  ,"T^f '  ^'"^  '^  *''«  «---"« 
t'oups  under  Oh.Li.  i;/(J  ^  't^'  '^  ^  f  7'^^  ^"^^  ^^^^  ^l-'i^l* 
forced  to  yield  in  April,  mio    their  I  i'^-  ^"'     '^'^'^"«"  ^^''■'•« 

an  insurreetion  of  hii  o;..  foiwls  "'  '^'  ^''"  ''^''"  '" 

-a'^^iaiS  Jr ';: -ir  t  tr  ^^  ^^"-  ^^^"  ^^«- 

l^ca  and  land;  buts.Lh  C'the      e  X^trVf '^  '''''''' 
de  cnnination  of  the  Spanish  co,ni,,audf  1 1  ^  ''  ""^  *^'« 

""t'l  the  19th  of  January   1826  Tl  '  ,  ""^^  "^'  ^^^'"''^'I 

was  agreed  up<,n.  Throughouf  h,^  '"  ^'""""^-^'«  capitulation 
-u  and  the  royalist  ^it^^ZoZ^2T'^  ^'  «'^««  ^'^  t-'i" 
stronghold  of  Spain  upon  tlTeeot  h  f  F'''"'''"'''  ^"  ^^^^  J"«t 
fron.  disease  and  fan.ina  Tho  "  1  ?  '  "''""'  ^^^^^  -^^--'^r 
^'-I  Porished  previous  to  the  surS^    '"^"^'""  ^'  '''  '^^^^^ 

liohvar  was  still  elothed  with  fho  .,^ 
and  his  position  as  goveno    of  Coh  7"'  "'  '  ^'^^'^'^^  ''"  J'-"- 
and  extended  his  inH^enc      nd  Lt     r  ^ov'Tf'^  strengthened 
cpatod  territory  in  the  northel  p^t^n'  "so'  H    a"  ''""'^'^  ^^'-"■ 
anxious  to  bring  about  the  adopS  bv  fl      p  ""'"'■     "«  ^^"'^ 

code  known  as  the  Bolivia  "K,.^      i  ""'"'  "^  '^''  -'^''l 

unsatisfaetory.     While  he  rlaC'      r'  '"'  ^^  ^'^^^^^  ^'^-'-"7 

P-p;ooverwhelmedlun.withpXL  ^'  '^  '^••^''''  "^'- 

^:"»  ■"  language  unsuitable  to  Z  bo  n  T  i^'      ^''''  '"^"^ '^^^^''^ssed 

t'on  took  plaee  notwithsta.K^,!  (.^j"  u    ,     "  ''"  ''"■^^•"    ^  ^-- 

^""o,  and  iiunibeng  wore  found  ready 


268 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


I 


accuse  this  truly  great  man  of  selfish  personal  ambition,  of  careless- 
ness for  the  true  interest  of  his  country,  and  to  impute  to  him  the 
most  unworthy  motives  in  all  his  efforts  for  colonial  independence. 

The  continued  presence  of  Columbian  troops,  who  remained  quar- 
tered at  Lima,  was  a  cause  of  great  complaint,  both  from  the  expense 
of  their  maintenance  and  the  prevalent  idea  that  they  were  kept  there 
to  suppress  any  free  and  independent  action  of  the  people,  and  to 
render  perpetual  those  extraordinary  powers  conferred  upon  the 
commander-in-chief  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  civil  war.  These 
apprehensions  were  removed,  during  the  year  following  the  reduction 
of  Callao,  by  the  revolt  and  removal  of  the  obnoxious  forces,  and  by 
the  election  of  General  La  Mar  to  the  presidency  of  Peru. 

The  government  had  not,  however,  the  elements  of  stability,  and 
the  country  remained  a  prey  to  factious  disturbance  and  civil  war. 
In  the  words  of  Commander  Wilkes,  the  history  of  the  state  "may 
be  said  to  be  merged  in  biographical  memoirs  of  its  several  rulers, 
who  have,  without  an  exception,  acted  for  self-aggrandizement,  with- 
out ever  looking  to  the  benefit  of  their  country,  its  peace,  or  happi- 
ness. They  have,  in  their  public  decrees  and  acts,  been  lavish  and 
prodigal  of  the  words  honour,  liberty,  justice,  &c.,  in  order  to  extol 
themselves  and  decry  their  opponents;  yet,  without  exception,  the 
moment  they  have  attained  power,  they  have  pursued  the  very  course 
they  before  reprobated,  and  the  country  has  continued  to  suffer." 

At  the  present  time  Peru  is  involved  in  difficulties  with  Bolivia, 
threatening,  if  not  indeed  amounting  to  an  actual  state  of  war.  The 
limited  extent  of  available  sea-coast  belonging  to  the  latter  country 
renders  her  peculiarly  dependent  upon  Peru  for  commercial  facilities; 
and  among  other  offensive  acts,  a  heavy  transit  duty  has  been  levied 
on  all  goods  destined  for  Bolivia.  Possession  has  also  been  taken 
of  the  port  of  Cobija  by  a  Peruvian  squadron. 


CHILI. 


CHAPTEH   I. 

EXPEDITION  OP  ALMAGR0.-C0MMI8SI0N  OP  PEDRO  DE  VALDIYIA 

-ST.  JAOO   FOUNDED.  — BATTLE  WITH   THE  MAPOCHINIANS. 

—  EMBA.'^SY  OF  MIRANDA  AND  MONROY.— DESTRUCTION 

OF  THE  QUILLOTAN  MINERS.  — VALDIVIA'S  MARCH 

SOUTHWARD.— THE    ARAUCANIANS. 

Elated  by  their  triumphant  successes  in  Peru,  and  with  their 
thirst  for  riches  unappeased  by  the  possession  of  tl>e  untold  treasure 
0  the  inca,  the  Spanisl,  invaders  turned  their  attention  to  the  unex- 
plored sea-coast  at  the  south,  as  a  further  field  for  their  rapacity. 

rDiZ";'"A  1  "  7^"'^*'""  *°  ^^"'^  ''''  accordingly  assumc'l 
by  D  ego  de  Almagro,  the  comrade  in  arnjs  and  rival  of  pfzarro  and 
a  well-appomted  band  of  adventurers,  numbering,  as  is  stated   five 

close  of  r  ^^^^"^i'/«\f-«>  -"der  his  guidance,  towards  the 
d  se  of  the  year  1536.  A  vast  army  of  native  Peruvians,  com- 
m  ded  by  a  brother  of  the  new  inca,  accompanied  him,  hop  ful  of 
better  fortune  under  a  European  leader,  than  their  countrymen  Ind 

Ins     d  of  following  the  sea-coast,  Almagro  took  his  course  over  the 
moun  a.ns,  as  being  the  shortest  route,  a  choice  which  resujted  in 
ernble  de.strnction  to  his  forces.     The  snow-eovcred  Andes  were 
be  crowed  by  an  army  worn  out  by  long  marches,  insuffic  end  -  "o! 

SmZd,   '^^.f  ,Pf  •\-''^"/--iliaries  and  about  .ne-fourth  of  the 
bpaniards  perished  during  the  pas,sage. 
In  the  province  of  Copiapo,  one  o°f  those  formerly  brought  under 

strength  and  sp.nt  of  the  army.     According  to  the  historians  of  the 


270 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


expedition,  the  invaders  were  received  by  the  native  Cliilians  with 
respect  and  hospitality,  but  opportunity  was  not  long  wanting  for  a 
full  display  of  Spanish  cruelty  and  revenge.  Two  straggling  sol- 
diers—for what  offence  is  not  known— were  put  to  death  at  Guasco 
and,  as  a  lesson  to  the  inhabitants,  Almagro  caused  Marcando  the 
ulmen,  or  chief  of  Coquimbo,  together  with  more  than  twenty  of 
the  most  considerable  persons  in  the  community,  to  be  seized  and 
burned  alive,  without  the  shadow  of  trial,  or  even  the  accusation*  of 
having  taken  part  in  the  offence.  It  appears  that  the  general 
conduct  of  the  Spaniards  on  their  march  was  replete  with  cruelty 
towards  the  harmless  peasantry  of  the  villages  through  which 
they  passed. 

Fresh  forces  had  now  arrived  from  Peru,  under  command  of 
Rodrigo  de  Orgonez,  and  Almagro  directed  his  course  southward 
through  the  rich  and  flourishing  districts  heretofore  rendered  tri- 
butary to  Pern.     Still  another  reinforcement  of  recruits  was  brou-ht 
out  by  Juan  de  Rada,  who  bore  dispatches  to  the  commander-in-chtef 
of  a  nature  to  turn  the  current  of  his  thoughts  from  the  present 
theatre  of  warlike  operations.     These  containe.l  his  formal  appoint- 
ment, by  the  crown  of  Spain,  to  the  government  of  a  large  dis- 
trict lying  next  south  of  that  already  confirmed  to  Pizarro!    The 
imperfect  surveys  of  the  period  had  not  definitely  fixed  the  "line  of 
division,  and  Almagro  was  assured,  by  letters  from  his  friends  in 
Peru,  that  the  capital  itself  lay  within  his  newly-acquired  territory 
That  active  soldier  would  not,  however,  immediately  give  up  h'is 
dreams  of  conquest,  although  the  extravagant  hopes  of  his  compan- 
ions in  adventure,  as  to  the  acquisition  of  further  treasures  in  gold 
and  silver,  were  by  this  time  greatly  damped.     He  pushed  on  to  the 
banks  of  the  Pio  Claro,  where  tlie  warlike  Promaucians  rallied  to 
oppose  his  further  advance.     To  their  astonishment,  the  Spaniards 
found  themselves  engage<l  with  an  enemy  whose  courage  and  forti- 
tude might  compare  favourably  with  that  of  veteran  soldiery.    After 
some  useless  fighting,  resulting  in  little  advantage  to  either  party 
Almagro  was  not  unwilling  to  listen  to  the  entreaties  of  his  followers' 
that  an   enterprise  offering  little  prospect  of  any  thimr  but  h'lrd 
blows,  should  now  be  abandoned.     He  took  his  course'northw.'.rd 
across  the  extensive  desert  of  Atacama,  avoiding  tlie  perils  of  a 
march  over  the  mountains,  but  expoi^ed  to  great  suffering  from  the 
and  and  inhospitable   nature  of  the  j.lains  to  be  traversed      Ilia 
return  and  seizure  of  Cuzco,  in  1538,  with  his  fiulher  adventures  in 


if 


CHILI. 


271 


the  bloody  civil  war  which  ensued,  and  his  final  d.f.  f       i 

tion,  have  been  n^ontioned  in  the  history  of  ptu  '      "''''"• 

rilZ^^^f::,^^'^  ^i^^^  -panion  and  rival. 

lead  another  expeSorifoC  irpfn^/jhth^d^^^''^^ 
come  out  from  Spain  with  the  rovnl       ,!^^ '^^'^  ^^^  previously 

exploit,  was  assii;:^^;:^^^^^^^^^^^^  '^  -^-^^«  t^i« 

ro/owetirtL"^^^^^^^^  '^  ^r^-.  conducted  his 

than  that  chosen  by  hLs  pj  decXo/'ur     '  """V'  '"  ^^^^ 
trifling  loss  upon  the  route     Th?  «°n«equently  met  with 

tin.,  was  comU  of  dT^e^nt  mat  ^X^^^^^^^^^^^  ^f'  ''  *^'^ 
it  was  proposed  to  form  a  permanpn^  !  i  ""^  Almagro,  as 

point,  in  order  to  acquTre  ffoXl,  .^''"'"*  '*  '''"^  ^^^^"''''^ble 
quest  and  colonization  TLre  wet  I"  .'  ''""^'^  '^^  '"^^^^^^^  ^«^^- 
cient  force  of  two  hundred  SnTn'  f  7"'  '"  "^^'''°"  ^«  '^'^  ^■^^^ 
number  of  women  aXtsts^C,  :•"'•'  ^^  of  Peruvians,  a 
for  the  use  of  the  infanCrny  *"  """^'^  ^'''  ^^^°  P^^^^^ 

buta;yprovintrfr  'recoTr^ttL^rT^'  ''T'''  "  ^^'^  ^^^• 
invaders  found  themselves  res  id  1  ,^'"^'P''"''"^^-  ^^''^ 
as  no  united  effort  was  made  bf  1-    1  ^  '*  """""^  P°'"*'  ^"* 

;l^ey  .ere  enabled  ZT^t!:  ::^Z^  ^^'^^ '^-^^-^> 
Cop.apo,  Coquimbo,  Quillota,  and  M  li  ]  ^  ^^^  m  ^?"T  "^ 
tility  and  beauty  of  the  cnujJ     ,       ,^'r'     ^  ^^apocho,  the  for- 

bis  first  settlemL   upon   he  b-k  o"f  tl  "T?'"  *"  ^^^'-^^"'^'^ 

of  the  province.     The  citv  of  St    T  '"''  ''^'''^  ^'^^^  *''^  "'''"^^ 

tl.e  24th  of  February  15fi  "^'"^  ^'"^  accordingly  founded  on 

the  •^:f;::;s;:^n:^:sSrT:  ^^^^^-^^^  °^^^''^^'  -^ 

intruders     Thp  inn   -i    ^""^'^'^^  ^''"^^  'leternimation  to  expel  the 

to  prevent  their  stlZ.'  7'    '  „■     ■■' '""'''  °'^"'«^  """■  C"<=li«  ."»l, 
adv.,t.ge  of  t^,  c,o;:.„  J     ,*  X:  ::r-  •;3'»  «"«..».  "t»l<in, 

=r:^i:^^:;i-tr"f-^-^ 
wi.i.e.e,  defend.  tw;::;:L:s;:r:"rr:::^^ 


J 


272 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


Suarez,  nnimnted  with  a  spirit  more  cruel  tlinn  courageous,  seized 
an  axe,  and  beat  out  the  brains  of  the  captive  chiefs,  who  had  at- 
tempted to  break  their  fetters  and  regain  their  liberty."  The  return 
of  Valdivia,  with  the  cavalry,  turned  the  scale,  and  after  the  slaughter 
of  an  immense  number  of  native  warriors,  the  survivors  fled  to  the 
mountains.  From  these  places  of  retreat,  for  years  thereafter,  they 
sallied  forth  to  annoy  the  Spaniards  and  prevent  their  obtaining 
supplies.  The  country  around  St.  Jago,  which  had  been  the  garden 
of  Chili,  was  now  deserted  and  uncultivated,  as  the  colonists  were 
unable  to  extend  their  agricultural  operations  beyond  the  bounds 
protected  by  their  fort.  Great  suffering  ensued  from  want  of  suffi- 
cient and  wholesome  food. 

A  new  source  of  wealth  was  finally  developed  by  the  opening  of 
gold  mines  in  the  valley  of  Quillota,  a  region  to  which  Valdivia's 
attention  had  been  directed  by  the  reports  of  the  natives.  Unfor- 
tunately for  the  convenience  and  interest  of  the  city,  it  had  no 
navigable  communication  with  the  sea;  but  to  secure  a  means  of 
intercourse  with  Peru,  a  vessel  was  built  at  the  debouchement  of  the 
river  Chile.  To  excite  further  interest  in  the  colony,  the  governor, 
Valdivia,  commissioned  two  officers  of  his  band,  Alonzo  jNlonroy 
and  Pedro  Miranda,  with  six  associates,  and  an  escort  of  thirty 
mounted  men,  to  proceed  by  land  to  Peru.  The  trappings  and  stir- 
rups of  the  ambassadors  were  directed  to  be  made  of  gold,  as  an 
ostentatious  display  of  wealth,  calculated  to  attract  the  attention  of 
fresh  adventurers.  This  party  was  attacked  on  the  road  by  a  body  of 
native  archers,  led  by  Coteo,  an  officer  of  the  ulmen  of  Copiapo,  and 
ever}'  man  was  slain  except  the  two  envoys.  These  were  taken 
before  the  chief,  grievously  wounded,  and  would  have  been  promptly 
put  to  death  but  for  the  intercession  of  the  ulmena,  or  wife  of  the 
ulmen.  This  kind-hearted  woman  took  the  utmost  care  of  her  pro- 
tdgds,  and,  having  healed  their  wounds,  manifested  her  confidence 
in  their  good  faith  by  entrusting  them  with  the  instruction  of  her 
son  in  the  art  of  horsemanship.  The  two  Spaniards,  perceiving  that 
a  way  of  escape  lay  open  to  them,  did  not  scruple,  at  a  favourable 
opportunity,  to  slay  the  young  prince,  and,  dashing  through  the  un- 
mounted attendant  archers,  were  soon  beyond  pursuit.  It  is  not 
pretended  that  this  cruel  and  ungrateful  murder  was  any  further 
essential  to  their  proposed  plan  of  escape,  than  as  creating  a  mo- 
mentary panic  and  confusion  among  the  guards.  They  made  their 
way  ill  safety  across  the  intervening  deserts,  and,  reaching  Peru,  bore 


IS,  seized 
0  had  at- 
le  return 
slaughter 
id  to  the 
^er,  they 
)btaining 
e  garden 
ists  were 
s  bounds 
■  of  suffi- 

ening  of 
aldivia's 
Unfor- 
'  had  no 
(leans  of 
nt  of  the 
overnor, 
Monroy 
)f  thirty 
and  stir- 
Id,  as  an 
ntion  of 
body  of 
apo,  and 
re  taken 
>romptly 
"e  of  the 
her  pro- 
nfidence 
n  of  her 
ing  that 
rourable 
the  un- 
t  is  not 
further 
g  a  mo- 
de their 
!ru,  bore 


OH  I  LI. 


273 


intelligence  oftho  condition  of  thnPl.n;  .     ..i 

di^oHtcrs,  to  the  governor   Vacate]'        "^^''^'^^'^^^anJof  their  own 

Kccruit«  were  at  on  o^o  el        T  v''  "'""""'^  ^"  ^'^''^'"^■ 
by  land  and  «ca.     In    Lo  of        ""^'''fr'"'^'-!  to  St.  J„go,  both 
fered  Hcverely  from   t       I      T  r^'n'urcemont«,  the  coltny  „ui: 

Nearly  the  en'ir  ""00"  Ced'atTh'  o'^n'" ""  ^'  *^'"  -'-- 
by  an  ambuscade  into  2rthe^'^;,^"''''^'^"^  '"''""  "««  «"*  ««" 
by  one  of  the  Indians  Thf.v  .  v  '?  ""^  "''""'''  "^^'^  <^«-«^" 
the  information  t  abunirnce  m  '"  ''  "l^  ^"^  '""  ^^  ««^^''  -•>' 
locali.-.so  excited  tTro^ZZZr^^^^^^^^ 

of  any  kind,  they  hurried  o^  {  ^'^hout  order  or  precaution 
s.royciatadiHad7„ntge   V  ;:i^^  'T'  "'"^  --  easily  de- 

"lander  and  a  noL^ro  foth  nf  J  "'^  ^^^^'^^''I'^'^' ^'^^  ««'" 

Valdivia  sustained'  aM'otr  hTr'f  ''''  "^"  ^«""^«^^- 
«nd  of  the  armed  vessel  bui  t  rC  Je  ^  H^^^^'""  "'  ''^  T""''' 
by  the- natives.  '  ^"*'^  ^^  ^^'I'^l*  were  burned 

preparations  for  pushing  his  onZ    T        f  "'"■^'''  ^'   '"*'^d« 

proiincesatthesouthwLl      Zn  rr."  p"  ''''"'°  ""^^^^''^^^^ 
who  had  broud.t  oTn  "*"*^  ^''''*'""'  '^  "^^«1  o^^cor, 

mro  now  rngi„„  and  the  n,nir  "■=  "cas  became  involved, 

PrcsWent  Git,    T.  governor  lent  his  assistance  to  ll,o 

»f  J™  »d  Lr";:::T:a:rr"'°'  ■''  "'""■'""  """"■»' 


274 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   lUSTOKY. 


Several  years  passed  away  without  further  attempts  against  the 
unsubdued  tribes  of  the  south.     Meantime,  the  settlement  at  Co- 
quimbo  had  been  destroyed,  and  the  settlers  in  that  province  had 
perished  by  the  assaults  of  the  Indians.     The  city  was  rebuilt  in 
1549.    In  1560  Valdivia  collected  an  army  of  Spaniards  and  Promau- 
cians,  and  set  out  in  hopes  to  accomplish  his  long-cherished  scheme 
of  southern  conquest.     In  the  month  of  October,  having  reached  the 
bay  of  Penca,  the  natural  advantages  of  the  place  induced  him  to 
pause,  and  lay  the  foundation  of  a  new  city,  to  be  called  Conception. 
While  the  Spaniards  were  engaged  in  this  work,  an  opportunity  was 
afforded  to  the  natives  of  the  vicinity  to  effect  a  coalition  with  allies 
of  M'hose  courage,  fortitude  and  military  skill,  no  adequate  concep- 
tion  had  been  hitherto  formed.     These  were  -the  celebrated  A  -  -.na- 
nians,  who  derived  their  name  from  Arauco,  one  of  their  smaliti 
provinces.    The  power  of  the  incas  had  never  been  extended  so  far 
as  the  district  in  which  the  Spaniards  were  now  establishing  a  foot- 
hold, and  the  Araucanians,  who  had  from  time  immemorial  main 
tained   complete   independence   of  every   other   nation,  promptly 
determined  to  march  at  once  against  the  invaders,  and  not  to  wait 
the  expected  violation  of  their  own  rights  of  territory. 

Of  this  singular  people,  the  early  historian  of  Chili,  Don  J.  Ignatius 
Molina,  gives  accounts  so  highly  coloured,  that  his  veracity  has  been 
called  in  question,  but  he  solemnly  avers  that  all  which  he  gives  as 
fact  was  drawn  from  reliable  authority.  The  apparent  exaggeration 
of  his  eulogium  may  be  confined  to  the  imaginative  conclusio'ns  which 
he  has  drawn  from  correct  premises,  and  may  arise  from  the  enthu- 
siasm naturally  excited  by  the  detail  and  contemplation  of  the  won- 
derful intrepidity,  and  unequalled  spirit  of  endurance  which  have 
ever  characterized  these  hardy  mountaineers. 

Their  country  was  separated  from  that  of  the  Penconeo  by  the 
river  Bio-bio,  and  across  this  stream  an  Araucanian  army  was  led  by 
Aillavilu  the  Toqui,  a  military  chieftain  of  the  country. 


CHILI. 


276 


not  to  wait 


CHAPTEE   II. 


U 


A  PITCHED  battle  took  place  on  the  V..„v.  „f  .i.    .    _,  ,. 
the  tot  time  the  Spar,h,^Zl,,      ,  °  ^''^''^''''- "''''' f''' 

novelty  of  eavalryatrarlT^trnei^h  'T'  '"  "'■°™  "'^ 
With  true  ™ili  J,  ,m  AiZnr.:  ,  he  /a„t;°fT  ^"'"''°''- 
and  fell  upon  them  in  front  and  rear  with  tL         .         <'PP'="en^ 

As  the  foremost  ranks  of  the  a^Ztltr^l^T^rrrr- 
their  places.    The  deatlof'the  C        u      "'"'  ''""'P"""-  '°  '"PP'/ 

a.  e„e.y,  and  profe^ed  :oti    'a      rr,,  ZZ  ^f  ""'""'l 

the  salvation  of  the  armv  fnr  +1,     a  ^'     ^^'^  P^'^^ed 

.;;;;o-«..er.n„lestatio„t„eontirr^^^ 

itiiiiur_y.    lie  crossed  the  Bio-bb  n  1 ''i'i9  nn,i  i>.         '^ 
pa^ed  .hrough  the  prov.ncos  of  E  c  d"  P    ef  ^11:7^ 

fo..nda„o„s  of  the  eit„  „f  „„,„™,  „„  ,,,  ,„„,  ^^  r":!  Cant™ 

ossessiou  of  the  country,  (for  Lincovan  did 


[secure 


276 


THE  I'KOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


not  venture  to  measure  liis  strength  with  that  of  the  Spaniards,)  Yal- 
divia  made  extensive  assignments  of  territory  to  his  subordinates. 
He  commissioned  Alderete,  an  officer  in  the  army,  with  sixty  followers 
to  commence  a  settlement  on  the  lake  of  Lauquen,  and,  with  recruited 
forces,  continued  his  march  to  the  southern  bounds  of  Araucanin. 
The  river  Caliacalla  divided  this  country  from  that  of  the  Cunches 
who  at  first  made  great  demonstration  of  resistance,  but,  after  some 
negotiation,  laid  aside  their  hostile  attitude,  and  permitted  the  army 
to  pass  the  stream.  Upon  its  southern  ban'v  was  founded  the  ill- 
fated  city  on  which  the  governor  bestowed  his  own  name,  Valdivia. 

Without  proceeding  farther,  the  commander  now  took  measures  to 
secure  his  supposed  conquests,  and  returning  through  Puren,  Tucapel 
and  Arauco,  he  built  a  fort  in  each  province.  No  efiicient  resistaiiee 
was  made  by  the  natives  to  these  offensive  operations,  although  many 
battles  or  skirmishes  took  place  during  their  progress.  Historians 
ati,ribute  this  uncharacteristic  want  of  energy  to  the  stupidity  or  over- 
caution  of  the  Toqui  Lincoyan.  Valdivia,  considering  the  country 
as  subdued,  and  the  natives  as  permanently  overawed,  thought  only 
of  increasing  the  number  of  his  settlements  and  extending  his  terri- 
torial occupation.  In  the  district  of  Encol,  he  founded  his  seventh 
colony,  calling  the  new  city  the  City  of  the  Frontiers.  It  afterwardtj 
went  by  the  name  of  Angol,  and  previous  to  its  destruction  is  spoken 
of  as  having  become  prosperous  and  wealthy,  Alderete  was  at  this 
time  sent  to  Spain  with  magnificent  reports  concernino-  the  con- 
quered country,  and  with  instructions  to  procure  for  his  superior,  if 
possible,  from  the  emperor,  a  special  commission  of  authority..  Tliese 
events  took  place  in  the  year  1553. 

Meanwhile,  an  important  movement  was  going  on  amono-  the 
Arancanians,  An  aged  ulmen  of  Arauco,  named  Colocolo,  di.sgusted 
with  the  supincncss  of  the  Toqui  Lincoyan,  exhorted  his  countrymen 
to  combine  lor  the  expulsion  of  the  foreigners.  He  travelled  through- 
out Araucanin,  boldly  advocating  tlie  deposition  of  a  leader  who  had 
proved  himself  without  capacity  for  his  responsible  office,  and  the 
appointment  of  one  whose  valour  and  energies  rnigiitsave  his  people 
from  Spanish  tyranny  and  aggression.  Great  matters  of  state, 
involving  the  interest  of  the  nation  at  large,  were  decided,  anion" 
these  primitive  people,  by  a  council  of  the  ulmenes,  or  caciques  of 
the  difibrent  provinces,  held  in  an  open  field.  Such  a  meeting  was 
therefore  appoint-d,  and  discussion  ran  high  as  to  the  fittest  successor 
to  the  dictatorship,  to   be  vacated   by  tlie  removal  of  Lincoyan. 


CHILI. 

One  Tucapel,  a  chief  of  a-rpnt  miKfn., 

nent  candidate,  but  as  his  electl  ^  ^  ''"'^"'  ^^^  *^«  '^^^^^  P^-^^i" 
it  was  finally  determfned  to  .nh  ??  "T"'^  ^^  "  P^^^^^-^^  P^^^^, 
old  chief  no^inateTcl  Xt'  1^^^^^  Colocolo  %i^ 

accordingly  installed  amid  univesaTZLl^n  %?"'"'  ^^°  ""'' 
candidates,  including  the  famon^  t7  ,  ^'".''?'°"-  ^he  unsuccessful 
from  envy  .r  iealo!sv  aZ  ^^^^''^'^'"""^^"^^b^^fr^^dom 
new  toqui^       '  ^'  ''°'P*^'^  subordinate  positions  under  the 

All  were  now  ea^er  for  war  bnf  On,,^  v 
petuosity  until  he  could  make  Lnl?  ^1'''^"  ''''''''''^  '^'^'  ^"^■ 
blow.    The  fort  at  AraZ  w^r  «     "l^'  '"'^^'^"^  ^°  unexpected 
the  Indian  auxiliaries  to  the  S       •    f  '^f '*  ''  '-^"^^k"     Eighty  of 
collect  forage  f^he  ho  t  ^'"'''^^'  ^^^°  ^^^  ^een  sent  ouMo 
back  to  the^fort    tupo'an  Z%T^'^  ^"^""^^^  «^  ^^^^^  ^7 
best  warriors,  who  wirthe L,  '    ^^'"'^^ ^^  '"^""'^  "^^^er  of  his 
and  hay,  eas/ly  effete  Vn^^^^^^^^^^    ^  ^'^  trusses  of  grass 
before  the  Araucanian  army  could  ,^1    .»       '^"'''*  '"'"^^'  ^^^ 
assailants  were  driven  out  and  ^h     ,        v   ''/  '''"'  "^  ^«*^«"'  ^he 
a  fruitless  endeavour  to   Lm^^^^^^^^^^  -«  -i-d.     After 

content  himself  with  reduci^c,  i?  T 1/  ^''"P<^^'^^"  ^««  obliged  to 
but  the  garrison  escaped  at"??h    ch"".  '^     '''"  "«^  ^^-^^d. 

the  full  speed  of  theif  horl  fnl '1^"!'^'°"^'^  '^''  ^^«'«8-«  -t 
tiou  to  Puren.  '    ^  '""'"'^S  *^^^^  ^^3^  ^^ithout  obstruc- 

^:^^i!z:::^z!^:  --'']  *^«  --  ^-  with  that  of 

Tucapel,  Caupolican  "d  ^^^^ff  "^"^^^'  ^^  ^^^^"^  ^' 
part  of  the  Spaniards.  ValdivTa'I.  nT''  7''''''"'  °"  *^^« 
amounting,  it  appears  to  spvI.  M   '^''"J^''''^^«  ^^^^lected  his  forces, 

sands  of  his  InZ  aUos  and  Irch  ,''  '^"""^'^  ^"^  ^°'-  *'-- 
i.^  «till  greater  force,  J  r'  pr  p"  " fo^.T '"■'  '^^  ^"^^'^^^^"^'  -'-> 
t-  armies  met  before  the  fort  a  Tut  ,  ■"^''?  ^^S'-^gement.  The 
155;i  As  the  Spaniards  appltell'Ilc''  ".  ''■"'  ^^'^^"^^^^' 
stricken  with  comster,,ationTt  ,       f  f"'  ""^  ^'^'""'  ^^'^^^  ^^^re 

of  their  number,  w  lo  h  d  been       Tf    "'^  ^^'^'"^  ^'^^^«  ^^  ^'^-^^ 
-:;,bungfrom\het:et'bX  wt^^^^^^^      ^^  '''''''''''''  '^'  ^^^' 

Ma:;L;:f:;i:;::::;::^\t[:^TT  ^t  ^^^  -^- — -^  of 

Marianta'comm  c  d  e  ,  r  ^T  'f  '^  ^'"  ^'-^"-'^  '^'-^Pel- 
;;;ee^^i.  engaged  in  ^  :tt  ^  ^  ^l!  ;f  1^^ f  ^^T  7^ 
0- ^....r  oecasi..  that  the  thunder  ^::;i^e^  ::n:;^^ 


278 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF  IIISTOEY. 


produced  no  confusion  or  dismay  on  the  part  of  the  Araucanians 
those  behind  pressing  forward  with  the  utmost  eagerness  to  take  the 
places  of  those  who  fell.  Again  and  again  they  made  an  orderly- 
retreat,  only  to  form  anew,  and  rush  with  renewed  fury  to  the  attack. 
Victory  at  last  seemed  in  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards;  an  immense 
number  of  the  enemy  had  fallen,  while  the  rest  were  in  disorder,  and 
began  to  crowd  confusedly  together  in  their  retreat  from  the  chari>o 
of  the  armed  and  disciplined  soldiers  of  Valdivia. 

Among  the  Spanish  troops  was  an  Araucanian  youth,  only  sixteen 
years  of  age,  named  Lautaro,  who  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  Val- 
divia on  some  former  occasion,  and  who  served  as  his  personal 
attendant.  Excited  by  the  discomfiture  of  his  countrymen,  at  the 
moment  Vhen  the  Spaniards  were  rushing  forward  with  exultiii'-- 
shouts,  this  young  Indian  threw  himself  amop.g  the  fugitives,  and 
seizing  a  lance,  exhorted  them  to  rally  and  preserve  the  honour  ami 
safety  of  their  country.  lie  hastily  represented  that  the  Spaniards 
were  worn  out  with  fatigue,  and  must  give  way  if  the  contest  could 
be  longer  maintained.  "The  Araucanians,"  says  Molina,  "ashamed 
at  being  surpassed  by  a  boy,  turned  with  such  fury  upon  their  ene- 
mies, that  at  the  first  shock  they  put  them  to  rout,  cutting  in  pieces 
the  Spaniards  and  their  allies,  so  that  of  the  whole  of  this  army, 
only  two  Promaucians  had  the  fortune  to  escape,  by  fleeing  to  a 
neighbouring  wood." 

Valdivia  was  taken  prisoner,  and  when  brought  into  the  presence 
of  Caupolican,  made  supplication  for  his  life,  promising  to  abandon 
all  his  undertakings,  and  remove  with  his  people  from  the  country, 
if  he  were  set  at  liberty.  Lautaro,  retaining  a  regard  for  his  former 
master,  joined  in  these  entreaties,  and  Caupolican  appeared  about 
to  yield,  when  an  old  chief  among  the  bystanders  put  an  end  to 
the  discussion,  by  striking  the  prisoner  dead  with  his  war-club. 
He  then  justified  himself,  with  the  remark,  "that  they  must  be  mad 
to  trust  to  the  promises  of  an  ambitious  enemy,  who,  as  soon  as  he 
had  escaped  from  this  danger,  would  make  a  mock  of  them,  and 
laugh  at  his  oaths." 

On  the  succeeding  day  the  victorious  Araucanians  gathered  with 
their  friends  from  far  and  near,  to  celebrate  their  success.  The  heads 
of  the  slain  Spaniards  and  Promaucians  were  hung  from  trees  as 
ghastly  trophies,  while  the  toqui  and  his  officers,  decked  in  the 
arms  and  habiliments  of  the  Europeans,  presided  over  the  fes- 
tivities of  the  day. 


en  ILL 


279 


and  Vniarica,  they  shu.  .he  Jelve?""   '  u,?rSt'«°''  ''"™' 

divia  and  Conceotion      Tn  *i  7  tortifled  towns  of  Val- 

-lege.    La«a.o  O!,  Zl  '^.^  "XrtiZr  TT  '"'" 

command  in  the  army  as  a  rownr^  f  I-  ^''V  °^^*  ^"^^'''^'nate 
was  posted,  with  a  'poZmZe  ton  T^"^  ^1  r'"''-' 
Mariguenu,  a  mountain  which  mu^ft^iK  '"°^'^  heights  of 
into  Arauco  from  the  r:!;^:^^^^^'  ''''''  "^^^^^^ 

marched  without  dday  to  the  rX  tf    hTh    ^     '."^'""^  ^«'"^^' 
tance  southward  from  the  Biotio   I  "^"^-     ^  ^^^«"  ^is- 

guard  of  Lautaro's  division   w  ici  L  1  TTv'''^'  ^''^'  *'^^'^"««'l 
of  three  fours' duration;^;;"  Jel  t,^^^  contest 

Araucanians  were  protected  hvoi  ^  '^''  '"ountain.     The 

sible  to  force  their  pCi  b^uU  IVn  '  "  ''  ^"^^^  ^'"P- 
to  bear  upon  the  entrenchmcn.rri '  f  ^'f  ^'I^^^^cs  were  brought 
kept  up  at  a  eonvenien  d L^^^^^^^^^  telTr,'"  f "  ^'  ™^^'^^^^^  -« 
the  cannon,  Lautaro  ordered  one  of  hTsoffi.  ."r"  ^""^'^  ^^ 

storm  the  battery  and  brin^  ntnw  ''  """'''^  I^eucoton,  to 

^eturn  without  LcolXS.^  ^JP^^T'  ''"'  "^^  ^^ 
pletely  successful-  the  cannnn  ,  \       ^  ''"''"'P*  ^^«  ^om- 

a  sudden  and  simlneorjhltT  '-"f  'f  ^'^^^^  ^^'  *^"^^'  ^^ 
utterly  routed,  and  driven  n  conLi  ^°'"?'  *'  ^P""'^^^«  ^^^'^« 
mountain.  A  party  pr'ious  v  1  "  .T".  '^'  "''^^"  P^^'^  ^^  ^^e 
mander  had  thrown  ZZlZ  rT    f  ^^'  '^''  ^^^mcanian  com- 

defile,  and  the  fu^Uives    h„  1 1^  ^^  "''  ''  ''""  """  ''' 

The  governor,   wtth  a\w "     "„!  ""  iT^*'  "-^tly  perished, 
forcing  his  way  throu<.h  the  enTmvT       /°^^^^^«'  succeeded   in 
At  that  city  their  arrival        f''''^^'^^^""^^P^'°'^^"'^^f^'ty. 
Molina,  "indeLb  bl^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  P^^^^^^'  -  the  words  o'f 

family  but  had  the  loss  of  ol  i  T  '"'''''''''■  ^^^'^  ^^«  "ot  a 
greatly  heightened  ;  the  nXslfte '" '^^^"^-  ^^^-^— s 
Villagran,  who  thoult  t  ,n         f ,       "'"'  ^PP'^^^^  ^^  ^^'-^^'aro. 

P-i;itat;iy  thetSn  rme":^^  l^^tf  1  ^H  '^^'  T^'^"^^'^^ 
two  ships  that  were  then  fr.rf,,     .  ,    '•      ,  ''^"'''''''°  «"  ^'""'"'1  "f 

the  captains  to  co  due  p^o^^^^^^  ^  '\'  ^^'^^'^"^'  ^^^  ^^^  to 
Paraiso;  while    wi  h  th/    I     r  *^  Imperial  and  part  to  Val- 

land  to  Santlac:o."  '''  "'  *^^^  ^"^^^'^'^-^^«'  ^^  Proceeded  by 


t' 


280 


THE    I'KOPLE'S    BOOK    OF    HISTORY. 


Lautaro  and  liis  forces  entered  the  deserted  city,  and,  after  collect- 
ing much  valuable  bcjoty,  left  behind  by  the  inhabitants  at  their 
hasty  departure,  entirely  destroyed  the  place,  levelling  the  fortress 
with  the  ground,  and  reducing  the  wooden  buildings  to  ashes.  Vil- 
lagran  was  enabled  to  throw  frcsli  troops  and  supplies  into  the  he- 
sieged  cities  of  A'aldi via  and  Imperial ;  and  Caupolican  perceiving  that 
the  reduction  of  these  places  would  involve  great  loss  of  time  and  men 
drew  off  his  army,  and  effected  a  junction  with  that  under  Lautaro. ' 


CHAPTER   II  L 

MORTALITY   AMONG   THE   INDIANS.  —  DISPUTES    RESPECTING   THE 
VICEROYAI.TY.— SECOND    DESTRUCTION    OF    CONCEPTION.— 

LAUTARO'S    EXPEDITION    AGAINST    SANTIAGO. DON 

GARCIA    DE   MENDOZA, INVASION  OP  ARAUCA- 

N  I  A  . — C  ADPOI.ICAN'S    DISCOMFITURE. 
—  EXPEDITION    TO    CIIILOE. 


The  Spaniards  in  Imperial  proceeded  'to  plunder  and  lay  waste 
the  country  in  their  vicinity,  storing  within  the  walls  all  the  pro- 
visions on  which  they  could  lay  their  hands.  In  their  excursions 
for  this  purpose,  some  of  their  number,  being  infected  with  the  small- 
pox, communicated  that  disejise  to  the  natives,  and  a  mortality  more 
fearful  than  the  sword  tjf  the  enemy  ensued.  There  was  one  prov- 
ince, the  population  of  which  amounted,  it  is  said,  "to  twelve  thou- 
sand persons,  of  which  number,  not  more  than  one  hundred  escaned 
with  life."  ^ 

In  accordance  with  the  settlement  enjoined  by  Valdivia,  two  offi- 
cers of  note,  Alderetc  and  one  Francis  Aiguirre,  had  precedence  of 
Villagran  in  the  government,  but  their  absence  at  the  time  ofthe 
first  viceroy's  decease,  hft  him  without  a  rival.  The  return  of 
Aiguirre  to  Chili  threatened  to  involve  the  country  in  a  civil  war, 
but  it  was  finally  agi-eed  to  submit  the  question  to  the  Koyal  Audi- 
ence of  Lima,  a  tribunal  of  supreme  authority  over  the  Spanii^h 
provinces  of  South  America.  In  the  course  of  the  year  (1555)  Vil- 
higran  was  formally  confirmed  in  his  viceroyalty,  and  was  specially 
instructed  to  rebuild  the  ruined  city  of  Conception.     lie  complied 


CHILI. 


281 


w.th  tl>o  order  although  against  his  own  bettor  judgment,  and  had 
as.coMd  tunc  he  morfficution  of  hearing  tha^  tlfe  Anlucanian.^ 
under  Lautaro,  had  roade  a  descent  upon  the  city,  had  shun  or  expelled 
the  jnhab.tants,  and  had  left  the  place  a  smoking  waste  of  ruin's 

llus  success  encouraged  the  natives  to  renew  their  efforts  against 

he  colonies    Caupohcan  again  invested  Imperial  and  Valdivia,  while 

Lautaro  w.th  the  most  audacious  self-confidence,  undertook  to  n.areh 

tl,  Bio-m>,  and  proceeded  northward,  his  appearance  being  hailed 
with  acclamations  by  tlie  natives  of  the  districts  which  he  traversed 
laving  crossed  the  river  Ma.ule.  and  reache<l  Tromaucia,  his  poh-cy,' 
hitherto  peaceful  suddenly  changed,  and  instead  of  endeavouring  to 
gam  over  the  inhabitants  from  the  Spanish  interest,  he  fell  up-n 
hem  with  all  the  fury  of  revenge,  and,  after  ravaging  the  nelh- 
bounng  country,  fortified  himself  upon  the  bank  of  the  Eio  Claro 

Villagran  was  at  this  tfhie  sick  and  disabled,  but  his  former  expe- 
rience  of  Araucanian  valour  and  determination,  taught  him  to  lise 
no  fme  in  strengthening  the  defences  of  the  city.     He  also  forth- 
with  dispatched  his  son  Pedro,  with  all  his  available  force,  to  attack 
Lautaro  a    h,s  encampment.     A  pretended  flight  on  the  part  of  tlio 
invaders  drew  the  Spaniards  within  the  enclosed  space  of  the  camp 
where  rallying  suddenly,  the  Araucanians  routed  them  with  greai 
slaughter  only  those  who  were  mounted  being  enabled  to  escape 
Three  subsequent  assaults  proved  equally  unsuccessful,  and  Pedro 
encamped  on  the  plain  overlooked  by  the  hostile  fort 

Upon  his  recovery,  the  old  governor,  in  the  year  1556,  undertook 
in  person  the  expulsion  of  the  intruders.     He  led  an  armv  of  one 
hundred  and  ninety-six  Spaniards,  and  a  large  force  of  Indians  by 
a  secret  route,  upon  Lautaro's  camp,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  U 
about  day-break,  without  discovery.     "Lautaro,"  says  the  ChiHan 
nstonan,   "who  at  that  moment  had  retired  to  rest,  after  having 
been  upon  guard,  as  was  his  custom  during  the  night,  leaped  from 
h.s    od  a    the  first  alarm  of  the  sentinels,  and  ran  to  the  e'ntrer  eh 
ments  to  okserve  the  enemy.     At  the  same  time  a  dart,  hurled  by 
one  of  the  Indian  auxiliaries,  pierced  his  heart,  and  he  fell  lifbless 
in  the  arms  of  his  companions."     The  whole  of  his  Araucanian 
wnrrion,  unable  to  form  and  oppose  any  effectual  resistance,  were 
cut  off  to  a  man.     They  refused  quarter,  and  fought  to  the  las   with 
dc^^perate  fury.     The  death  of  Lautaro  was  a  ^.vere  blow  to  the 
Araucanian   patriots;    the    toqui,   Caupolican.  disheartened   bv  so 


282 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


Bcvere  a  reverse,  drevy  ofF  his  forces  from  Imperial  as  soon  aa  the 
news  reached  him,  and  took  up  a  position  where  he  might  cut  off 
further  supplies'by  hand  from  Peru.  The  esteem  in  which  the  young 
and  valiant  Lautaro  wa.s  held  by  his  countrymen,  and  the  respect 
paid  to  his  memory  by  the  European  soldiery,  to  whom  he  had 
proved  so  dangerous  an  enemy,  are  still  commemorated  in  the 
works  of  contemporary  poets  and  historians.  "His  enemies  them- 
selves," says  Molina,  "highly  applauded  his  valour  and  military 
talent,  and  compared  him  to  the  most  celebrated  generals  that  have 
appeared  in  the  world.  They  even  called  him  the  Chilian  Han- 
nibal, from  a  fancied  resemblance  between  his  character  and  that 
of  the  famous  Carthaginian  general,  although,  in  some  respects  it 
had  a  much  greater  similarity  to  that  of  Scipio." 

When  news  of  Valdivia's  discomfiture  and  death  reached  Spain 
Alderete  received  a  commission  from  Philip  II.,  as  his  successor;  but 
as  he  died  before  entering  upon  his  office,  it  was  conferred  by  the 
Peruvian  viceroy,  the  Marquis  of  Canete,  upon  his  own  son,  Don 
Garcia  de  Mendoza.  With  a  considerable  fleet,  freighted  with 
abundant  provisions  and  stores,  and  accompanied  by  a  numerous 
band  of  those  military  adventurers  who  were  left  unemployed  by 
the  cessation  of  the  civil  war,  the  new  viceroy  directed  his  course  to 
the  bay  of  Conception.  He  landed  at  the  island  of  Quiriquina  in 
the  month  of  April,  1557,  where,  after  driving  out  the  native  inhab- 
itants, he  fortified  himself,  resolved  to  await  the  arrival  of  his  cav- 
alry and  additional  recruits  from  Peru,  before  engaging  in  active 
operations  upon  the  main. 

Several  Araucanian  pri.soners  were  set  at  liberty,  with  instructions 
to  make  known  to  the  native  authorities  the  disposition  of  the  Span- 
iards to  arrange  terms  for  a  permanent  peace.  At  a  general  assembly 
of  the  ulmenes,  it  was  concluded  that  no  reliance  could  be  placed 
upon  these  fair  promises  and  specious  proposals;  but  a  wary  and 
sagacious  chief,  named  Millalauco,  was  commissioned  to  return  an 
answer,  and  to  take  especial  note  of  the  number  and  equipment  of  the 
foreigners.  With  a  proud  and  independent  bearing,  the  envoy  made 
his  appearance  before  Don  Garcia,  and,  with  a  protest  that  his  people 
were  in  no  wise  intimidated  by  the  apparent  force  of  the  Spanish 
armament,  expressed  the  readiness  of  the  ulmenes  to  conclude  an 
honourable  peace.  Upon  hearing  his  report,  the  Araucanians  made 
diligent  preparations  for  war,  and  established  a  regular  system  of 
espionage  on  the  movements  of  the  Spaniards. 


283 

.he  bay.     Three  dl,    1  ^^'TJ:, ""'""'  '"i""''  °-*'*'"=- 
attacked  the  place     Althouril    ff"^        °'  "'"'  °  Sreat  force, 

the,  India,  la  .otlSLro't^ITJtttr l""^  T"""' 
their  eagerness  and  self-devntinn    +u  .  battery,  and  such  was 

threw  th°e.selves  wit"  the  lit  S  df^^-  ''^  ^^^"^'^^' 
to  the  la^t.     Tucape]  in  nerLn^         '  ^^  ^^h^mg  with  fury 

their  lives,  but  hTs  great' S^^^^  ^^°  *^-«  -P-^ 

the  iate  of  his  co.p'an  nsThe  alT^  d  ^'  ''"  *°  ''^^'^ 
after  a  whole  day's  fi.htin^  C.LT  ^  f  unsuccessful,  and 
Immediately  af  J  this°enga^^^^^^^^^^^  f'^^'  to  withdraw, 

a  great  hody  of  well-ar^ed^S^  .::,:rort  el^  '^'^''^^ 

Caupoliean  was  unable  to  ob  tructT'  ?       '''°''  '^'^  ^^«-bi«- 

being  completely  defeated  in  on.  """''^  ^"*"  '^'^'^^^'  ""^  ^^^^ 

the  itvaders  b/sk  „n thi  ^aTtr^^^^^^^  ^'"  ^^^^  °"^^  ^«  l-''^-^ 

add  to  the  rage'and'TignloTo^^^^^  '''  '^"'  ^"^  ^^^^-     ^'« 

the  barbarity  to  cut  off  the  hrd,  1       f^'^^''^'^^  ^on  Garcia  had 

Galverino.  ai.d  dismls  ll':^"  :':„t:!rr  "'  P^^"""'  "^"^^^ 
Melipuru,  the  Spanish  00^^116^"?^  •  '"""*7"^^°-  ^^ 
vainly  endeavoured  to  extrrtfnforlr^  .T"^'  ''"^'"^^  P^^'^°"^^«' 
rolican.  On  the  day  fo^L  "  Z t^"  -'^^  ^^'^^^^^  of  Cau- 
up  his  army  for  a  pitched  bS  '^^f  ^^"^^^^  ^'"''^'  ^^^^^  ^''-^ 
tl'e  strong  Ly  ofLai:;,  w,^^^^^^  defeat; 

too  great  an  advantage  over  nativp  vnf^       of  Europeans,  proving 
chier,amongthemth!braverd:ni^^^^^  ^^^ve 

by  order  of  Don  Garcia  hpCnr«  v  Galverino,  were  hanged 

In  the  province  of  Tuc.n.f"  '™^  ^''""'''^''^  °"  ^^«  '""^^h. 
risoned  a  fort  and  laid  outT'.      TTf""^  ^""^^^^  ^uilt  and  gar- 

^^ent  that  LZZZZtr:^^^^:'^ 
reduced.     From  Imnerial  «\  7     f  effectually  humbled  and 

visions  and  stoL  wL  '1 IM    /  '^  """"P^'  ^^'^'^  ''^^""'^•'^»«e  of  pro- 
new  citv.     Sraro  n  an    '^.f^f'^.^'T'  ^^  '^"^'^"'^  ""^  -^PP-^'the 

possessed  them^setr:?':     tot'  ^  CV^^"  ^  Tf'  ^^ 
completely  routed  'uul  nnt  i    a    i      '  '^  Spaniards,  although 

safety.     cLpo  Lan   '  it    n     f'   I  "'"^^"'  "^  '^'^'^'^S  Canete  in 
^^rcient,  aiaXd  t li:  nW  ^I  ^"".^^  ^''-"-^'  ^^  this  r.in 


!  place,  but  was  unable  to  force  o 


introiic.linicnta 


284 


TIIK   PEOI'LE'R    BOOK    OF   1II8T0KY, 


aubstnntially  constructed,  and  defended  by  artillerv.  His  troops 
It  IS  said,  "supported  a  continual  fire  for  five  hours,  now  scalin-r  the 
rampart,  now  pulling  up  or  burning  the  j)alisades."  ° 

Endeavouring  subsequently  to  obtain  an  entrance  into  the  fort  by 
means  of  intriguing  with  a  native  Chilian  in  the  Spanish  service 
the  toqui  was  entirely  outwitted.     The   double   traitor,  while  ho 
pretended  to  have  arranged  a  plan  for  the  admittance  of  the  besiegers 
at  an  unguarded  hour,  in  reality  kept  the  Spanish  commandant  fully 
informed  of  the  proposed  attack;  and  cannon,  heavily  loaded  with 
grape,  were  so  brought  to  bear  as  completely  to  command  the  en- 
trance.    At  the  appointed  time,  the  gate  was  left  open,  and  the 
Araucanians,  anticipating   an   easy  victory,  poured   into  the  fort 
As  the  fire  opened  upon  their  crowded  ranks,  and  the  Spaniards" 
fully  prepared,  fell  upon  them  with  great  fury,  a  total  rout  ensued' 
Caupolican  himself  escaped,  and  fled  to  the  mountains,  but  his  army 
was  utterly  destroyed.     The  unfortunate  chief  never  recovered  from 
this  disaster;  Alonzo  Reynoso,  after  long  search,  by  the  treachery  of 
a  native,  discovered  his  place  of  retreat,  and  dispatched  a  party  who 
succeeded  in  surprising  and  taking  him  captive.     The  royal  prisoner 
was  immediately  ordered  by  the  Spanish  commander  to  be  impaled 
and  shot  to  death  with  arrows,  a  sentence  which  was  accordingly  car- 
ned  into  effect.  °  -^ 

Don  Garcia  was  at  this  time  absent  on  his  celebrated  expedition 
to  the  Archipelago  of  Chiloe.     He  set  out  from  Conception,  which 
he  had  directed  to  be  rebuilt,  in  the  year  1558,  for  tte  purpose  of 
making  a  campaign  against  the  Cunches.      Arriving  amon-  these 
people,  whose  character  and  condition  was  as  yet  unknown" to  the 
Spaniards,  his  designs  were  frustrated,  and  his  attention  diverted 
from  further  schemes  of  occupation  by  a  sagacious  manccuvre  for 
which  the  Cunches  were  indebted  to  an  exiled  Araucanian      This 
man,  named  Tunconobal,  advised  them  to  conceal  all  si-^ns  of  wealth 
and   to  impress  the  Spaniards  with  an  idea  that  the^country'and 
people  were  utterly  poor  and  destitute.     Tunconobal  was  therefore 
sent  with  nine  comrades,  to  meet  the  Spanish  commander     "  Cloath- 
ing  iiimseif  and  companions  in  wretched  rags,  he  anneared  with 
every  mark  of  fear  before  that  officer,  and  after  complimenting  him 
in  rude  terms  presented  him  with  a  basket  containing  some  roasted 
lizards  and  wild  fruits."*  ° 

Hopeless  of  obtaining  any  booty  from  such  a  people,  Don  Garcia 

Molina's  History  of  Ciiili. 


CHILI. 


285 


procured  a  gu.de  o  conduct  him  southward.     The  man  whom  the 
Cunches  furn,shed  for  this  service,  in  accordance  with  his  instrue 
t|ons,  led  the  army  t^,rough  the  most  wild  und  inhospitable  pa     of 
he  country  and  made  his  escape,  after  involving  the  way-woUlrd 
fumislnng  soldiers  m  apparently  inextricable  difficulties  among  des  r 
and  prec.p.tous  mountains.     At  the  close  of  the  month  of  January 
l.o9,  they  came  m  s.ght  of  the  beautiful  Archipelago  of  Chiloe  a7d 
the  bnlhant  spectacle  of  its  fertile  islands,  teem^^ng°with  an  imLti 

ous  population  and  the  land-locked  waters,  coverfd  with  c^oC 
.a.l-boat.,  g  addened  thc.r  eyes,  and  promised  rest  and  refreshment 
after  their  toilsome  journeying.  The  natives  received  the  Span 
lards  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  hospitality,  and  after  Tel 
•strength  was  recruited,  furnished  them  witl/provis'ions,  ^nVa  g  ide 
to  direct  them  upon  an  easy  route  homeward.  The  return  ma  ch 
through  the  provinces  of  the  Iluilliches,  was  accomplish  d^'S 
or  no  dilTicu  ty,  as  the  road  lay  through  a  level  country,  where  pk^ 
visions  could  easily  be  obtained.  ^ 


CHAPTER   I?. 


CAUPOLICAN   THE   YOUNOl^R.-lsiONAL    SUCCESSES  OP   THE    SPAN- 
lARDS.-WARLIKE   OPKiiATIONS  OP    ANTIOUEXU  -OP    PAi' 
LAITACHU.  — RECOVERY     OF     ARAUCANIA     BY     THE 
NATIVES.  — PEACE    CONCLUJJEI)    IN    1C41. 

Upon^  the  death  of  Canpolican,  the  assembled  ulmenes  of  Arau- 
cama  elected  Ins  eldest  son  to  the  vacant  dictatorship.  Tueapel  was 
-ade  v,ce-toqu,,  and  an  army  was  instantly  raised  to  prosecute  The 
^^a.  ..gainst  tlie  murderous  intruders.  L.  the  first  engagements  the 
Spannn-ds  met  with  signal  defeat,  and  Don  Garcia,  havTng  mard  d 
ftom  Conception  to  rmperial,  found  hi.nsclf  clo.^Iy  beJeged  by 
Cnipoliean  the  younger,  with  his  whole  armv.  The  Araucanians 
^vere  una  e  to  force  the  entreneh.n.ents,  and,  after  various  as!:.! 
he  the  young  chu.f  exhibited  the  most  astonishing  prowess  ani 
pe  sonal  couragt,  thoy  were  eon.pelled  to  raise  the  sie-e 

in  the  ensuing  campaigns  ofthis  year  (l.^r,{))  the  Spaniards  steadily 
Sauied  ground,  as  the  native  forces  were  continually  growing  weak«r^ 


266 


THE  I'EOl'l.K'N   BOOK   OK  IIIRTORY. 


L 


wlnl.  tho  arrival  „f  recruits  hy  «cu  m  co.mtnt.tly  incren«cd  the 
rm.urocs  oJ  the  furrnor.  Tl.c  (ittul  battle  of  guip..,  .rn»l..a  for  tl  o 
tune  all  tho  l.opcH  of  th«  Arauoaniar.H.  Thvir  last  arn.y  w«h  .m  t" 
piocos;  tlu-ir  l.rav.st  and  ,no«t  infLiontial  oflicors  w.ro  siuin;  a.nonir 
otl.ons  luonp.!,  Manantu,  Colocoio,  a.,,1  Lu.coyan;  mul  tho  bravt 
U.,polK-aM,  to  Hvui.l  falling  i„to  the  hand«  of  liis  cnon,ie«,  poriMlKd 
uy  Illy  own  hand.  ' 

Don  Garcia  now  rc-l,uilt  the  fort,  in  Arauco,  Angol,  and  other 
provinoos  IIo  also  nk,penod  the  lonK-nogloctod  gol.l  and  Hilver 
nunoH,  and  sont  a  body  of  troops,  nndor  IVdro  (^astillo,  across  tlm 

11.. t  olluer  lonndod  tho  c.tie«  of  St.  .luai.  and  Mc.ndo.u  on  the 
castorii  slopi!  of  the  great  mountain  range. 

Francis  Villagran  being  reinstated  in  the  viecroyalty  of  Chili  Dun 
(.are.a  returned  to  1'ctu,  having,  as  was  generally 'believed 'eon, 
l.I.tely  established  the  Spanish  power  in  the  former  country  '  Tl, . 
Araueanians   notwithstanding  their  terrible  reverses,  still  ci.erislu,! 

the  hope  of  liberty,  nn.I  hnvingehosen  a  .listinguishc>d  warrior,  named 
Anfiguenu    lor  then-  toqui,  retreated  t<.  the  nu.rshy  wilderness  of 

;;;;;'";;'•  J".t'"«  ^^-^^'-e  pi-"-'  of  eoneeulment,  Antiguenu  devote,! 
i'.'M«ll  (o  diseiplining  the  youth  enlisted  to  take  tho  j.laee  of 
the  veteran  warriors  who  ha.l  perished  in  tho  lato  disastrous  war 
«nd  soon  began  to  commit  depre.Iaiio.us  „„  the  m.,re  e.N.,osnl 
Spanish  settlements.  When  his  force  had  inerea.sed  suHicienlly  ,o 
J..stify  open  hostilities,  he  fortified  himself  upon  M<,unt  M.^riouemi 

tlu-scencM.f  the  brilliant  exploit  <>fLautaro,  and  had  the  good  fbrtu,^ 
;    '^  ."t.aeked  III  this  stronghold  by  a  Spanish  army,  under  a  son  of 

S    „•;:;■•'•      ^'"  /^''-'-"';'-  ---  -^-Hy  succcsslul,  and    tho 
^I'iiiiish  ft)rce  was  almost  entirely  destroyed. 

Without  delay,  Antiguenu  now  fell  upol,  ami  reduced  the  fortress  of 
Unete,  and  dispatched  a  large  army  to  make  a  new  attempt  upon  the 
my  of  Conception.     At  the  same  time,  he  laid  siege  to  the  fort   , 
Arauco,  then  in  command  of  Lorenzo  Bernal.     The  city  proved  t.'-o 

f  dis  blocUd.d    but  the  obnoxious  fort  at  A  rauco  was  taken  and  ,K- 
ti^ed.    '1  hus  far  the  Indians  were  successful,  but,  (in  the  year  1.  ,  4  ) 
^  An  iguenu  ..s  upon  his  march  against  Angol,  he  wa^on,.,,' 
to  engage  the  wnole  Spanish  army,  under  Bernal,  who  attacked  him 
TO.,  .he  bank  of  the  Bio-bio,  near  the  mouth  o/the  Ver^osr  Tli 
brave  toqu.  was  slain,  and  his  followers  were  destroyed  or'dispersed. 


287 

•an.,  C„j„„c,.rn,  „,„1  a„k.gu„l„,  „or.  ll,„  ..J,  .li.,ii„.„w,°      S' 
till!  pcaccublo  islotidcrs  siili.niltcil  i„  r..r,^i,„, »"'(]'<-■«"■,  ai«l 

1..  11.0  j.„ar  inmi  ti,„  ii,i„  „rs,,„„i,i,  .„„„«,„«  k™„  to  m™ 

».-./..«....,,,».  ;:rL,r:;r,irj  r-^::;;^-- 

be  the  only  plZ'        '  "^  ''^'^^"""f '"^  ^hcse  might  eventually 

all  in.  .-  ttrnclants  jhtisI..,!.     Simultaneously    viti,    this  evl  l 

the  n.lnnrahly  concerted   arran.rcrnents  of  tho  V      ""'  '''"'"^'.  ^^ 

throughout  Araucania,  as  well  as    1^  Cun  h  7n'  •    ",  ""'^^"' 

in  muss      "  Rrnr,,  «       ■     ,      ,  '-^•"^■'"■s  iuid  IIuillidicH,  rose 

V'lldivi.    Viii    •        '^^''^.  1*"^  ^^^  <l^"'tli;  nnd  the  cites  of  (l.sonio 
at  A       „?";,'■'';"'"'•  '':"'"'°'  '^"«"'-  C"3-,  a,.d  .!,„  f,«2 

.w  ll.o  ut.ca  of  Co,icc,,t.ou  ai.il  Chilian,  laij  waslo 


288 


THE  I'EOl'LE'S    15U0K   OF 


li  i:>Tu ;;  V 


the  provinces  in  their  dependence,  and  returned  loaded  with  spoil 
to  his  country."* 

During  the  three  years  succeeding,  all  tlie  Spanish  settlements  in 
Araucania  were  destroyed,  and  the  whole  country  south  of  the  Bio- 
bio  was  regained  by  the  natives.  A  singular  mixture  of  races 
resulted  from  the  adoption  by  the  Araucanian  conquerors  of  the 
prisoners  taken  at  the  reduction  of  the  principal  towns.  It  appears 
that  the  half-breeds  who  thereafter  formed  a  portion  of  the  inde- 
pendent population  of  Chili,  were  the  most  implacable  enemies  of 
the  Europeans.  From  this  time  until  the  year  1618,  the  Bio-bio 
constituted  the  boundary  between  the  hostile  races.  Many  ineffectual 
attempts  were  made  by  the  Spanish  viceroys  to  recover  the  lost  ter- 
ritory, and  equally  futile  proposals  for  the  establishment  of  a  peaceful 
communication,  for  the  purj)ose  of  missionary  enterprise,  were  set 
on  foot,  in  conformity  with  the  wishes  of  the  zealous  but  bicroted 
monarch  of  Spain.  ° 

From  1618  to  1632  the  office  of  toqui  was  held  by  the  warlike 
chieftains  Lientur  and  Putapichion,  who  not  only  maintained  pos- 
session of  their  own  territory,  but  made  continual  inroads  upon  the 
Spanish  settlements,  bearing  off  prisoner.'^,  horses,  and  other  valuable 
booty.     The  Araucaniuns  were  at  tliis  time  luibituating  themselves 
to  the  art  of  riding,  and  to  the  use  of  fire-arms,  as  far  as  they  could 
be  procured.     I'he  war  continued  until  the  year  1640,  when  the 
viceroyalty  of  Chili  was  conferred  upon    Don   Francisco  Zuniga, 
Marquis  of  Baydes,  who  had  before  done  good  service  for  SpaiiHiI 
the  wars  of  tlib  Low  Countries.     Tliis  officer  perceived  that  little  was 
to  be  gained    by  continued   hostilities  with   an    enemy  whom  no 
reverses  could  dispirit— no  .severity  subdue.      The  Spanish  army 
was  greatly  reduced,  altliougli  from  time  to   time  reinforced  by 
fresh  arrivals  from  Peru;  and  the  Araucanians,  in  the  midst  of  the 
misery  and  destitution  consequent  upon  such  long  and  bloody  con- 
tests, appeared  no  less  determined  than  when  they  fir.st  made  a  stand 
against  the  invasion  by  Valdivia.     Always  well  versed  in  military 
tactics,  they  had  now  become  far  more  dangerous  opponents,  from  their 
acquisition  of  horses  and  from  their  experience  of  European  warfare. 
ImnuMliately  on  his  arrival,  the  marquis  took  measures  to  procure 
a  personal  interview  with  Lineopichion,  the  toqui,  and  preliminary 
arrangements  f.,r  a  pea<-e  uas  agreed  upon.     A  great  meeting  was 
held,  lor  the  purpose  of   ratifying  and  concluding  the  treaty,  at 

*  Molina's  History  of  Chili. 


CHILI. 


289 


that  no  foreimera  of  n„v  „,!,.„ '""'  P'^'^™"""  'o  inssrl  a  proviso 
upon  the  ALca  ia„  cLt  ThH-  1°,""  '"  """"'^  '°  '-1 
f™  effort,  of  the  DutcTL  av!u  Cst^rofZ  c^'^'T  '' 

the  native  inhabitants  in  thpJr  nffo    "  ^^^^^^  °^  ^^^e  cooperation  of 
In  1643,  a  Dutch  C  Lm  B^  7    ."^T"^  '^'  ^"^'^"'^'^  i"  Chi)i. 
and  fortifications  we     comlfo..     T  '  *'f  ^-bour  of  Valdivia, 
thus  secured.  andTe  ass^treof  l".      ""''  *'"'*  '  '^^^'^^^^  '^^'^  b 
ing  it.     The  good  faith  of ir  A  "'*'^''  "^^^'"^^  ^»  ^^^ntain- 

rendered  this  fit  lli';^""^™^  ^--^«  the  Spaniards 


CHAPTEB   ?, 

RENEWAL   OF   WAR.— peatf   op    ,^,, 

OF  THE  ARAIICANIAN8  -T  r.  1'"— ^^^^^^^    CONDITION 

CIVIL    WARS.— ATTEMPT  OP  RAMON  FREYRE 

REBELLION  UNDER  TIDAURRE.-EsJab 

LISHMENT  OP   THE  REPUBLIC. 

agi™  etnlrat^nlC;  :'/T  '''  ^^^^^^^^^^^^  ^■^-^t'- 
the  miseries  of  a  ten  y  S  it  ""t.^  T  '"'  "'^^^^^'^  ^^^^^^  -" 
season  of  hostility,  tL  Cuf  Clen  " ''"P"°"^'  ^"^''"^^'^^ 

defeated  the  Span  ards  in  a  nV  .  i  T  "^"'""^^  ^"'^^^^f^^-  ^e 
Colcura,  St.  PeTo "nd  othe         t         J  ^'^'^^^  the  fort,  at  Arauco, 

-,ed  the  city  oi^i^'jnX:7l!  Z^T'  '^ 
Estancia  del  Eej.     Nothing  hnf  t},.         !  Christopher  and 

prominent  -on.^f  t,,if  :ia't:te";i:3 1:,-'!'."" "'  '"^ 

Wive,  whose  dimtistaion  LX 1  d  .1  °''^,'""',  '"""'^  "^  "'^ 
"ont  peace  was  effected  bo,  c  2  tf  im"  iT  •  ".?'";■""■ 
■Merval,,l,cgr„,vtl,ofthosel,l„,„JtC,,\"H  !  7^  "  '""" 
Vol..  m._l9  •'"""""JeJ,  and  an  enormous 


290 


TIIK   I'EOl'LE'S   BOOK   OF   IIISTOKY. 


expense  incurred  by  the  government.  Useless  campaigns,  wlaich 
resulted  in  loss  to  both  parties,  and  in  which  no  definite  or  perma- 
nent advantage  was  gained  on  either  side,  furnish  but  a  wearisome 
theme  for  the  historian.  Under  the  government  of  Francisco  Xavier 
de  IMorales,  a  lasting  peace  was  concluded.  The  toqui,  Curignancu 
having  consented  to  a  conference,  to  be  held,  in  accordance  with  his 
demands,  at  St.  Jago,  exhibited  a  skill  and  firmness  in  negotiation 
equal  to  his  bravery  in  the  field.  The  old  treaties  were  renewed 
and,  in  spite  of  much  opposition,  it  was  agreed  that  thereafter  a  resi- 
dent minister  from  Araucania  should  be  allowed  at  St.  Jago. 

At  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  only  possessions  of  the 
Spaniards  south  of  the  Bio-bio,  were  the  fortification  of  Valdivia,  sit- 
uated in  the  Cunchese  territory,  the  island  of  Juan  Fernandez,  and 
the  Archipelago  of  Chiloe.'  In  the  northern  provinces  of  Chili,  their 
settlements  increased  and  prospered,  while  the  Araucanians  remained 
in  peaceable  and  triumphant  possession  of  their  original  territory,  a 
possession  maiTitained  and  secured  by  more  than  a  century  of  lios- 
tilities.  No  uncivilized  nation,  of  equal  numbers  and  resources,  lias 
ever  in  the  history  of  the  world  maintained  so  protracted  a  struggle 
with  European  armies,  provided  with  all  the  means  and  appliances 
of  modern  warfare.  It  is  remarkable  to  what  a  degree  these  brave 
and  chivalrous  people  differed  from  the  generality  of  the  aborio-jnal 
Americans  in  their  system  of  strategy.  Their  campaigns  did  not 
consist  merely  of  a  series  of  secret  manoeuvres  and  midnight  sur- 
prises, nor  did  they  offer  battle  only  in  situations  which  would  fur- 
nish ready  places  for  retreat,  or  supply  coverts  from  which  the 
warrior  might  discharge  his  weapons  in  safety. 

In  the  words  of  Kobertson,  "they  attack  their  enemies  in  the  open 
field;  their  troops  are  disposed  in  regular  order,  and  their  battalions 
advance  to  action,  not  only  with  courage,  but  with  discipline.  The 
North  Americans,  although  many  of  tiiem  have  substituted  the 
fire-arms  of  Europe  in  place  of  their  bows  and  arrows,  are  notwith- 
standing still  attached  to  their  ancient  method  of  making  war,  and 
carry  it  on  according  to  their  own  system;  but  the  Chilians  resemble 
the  warlike  nations  of  Europe  and  Asia  in  their  military  operations." 

Such  ardent  feelings  of  patriotism  as  have  ever  distinguished  the 
Araucanians,  are  naturally  associated  with  strotig  attachment  to  the 
customs  and  manners  of  life  peculiar  to  their  ancestors.  This  is  par- 
ticularly noticeable  in  the  doubtful  success  met  witli  by  the  Catholic 
missionaries  whose  efforts,  from  time  to  time,  have  been  directed  to 


If-' 


CHILI. 


291 


tlieir  conversion'  ancl  in   +i.«       .  • 

conspicuous  in  their  go'rlenffrf''  ""P^'^^*^  -^'«^  -  «till 

I     oipal  addition  to  thdr  rerrcr:'/^^^^^^^  ^'^^  P"- 

occupation  and  pursuits  consTsts  in  t1  '°"^^^1"^"^  ^''^"ge  in  their 

cattle,  to  the  raiing  of  whTch   hei      ^^^'/"'f''^"'^*'^'^  ^^  Worses  and 

The  European  colonitof  Ch  '^^'  ^'"  '^^^^^°^- 

the  period  of  confusircoLealr'^'^^"'^'"^  ^°  ^^^^^  ""^^1 
ea..paisns;  a  period  orig  n  rnHat T"  f'''''  P^'""«"^- 
resultod  in  the  loss  to  the ^tt'e        ^^^^^^^^^^^  ^^-^ 

tuicntal  possessions.     Bv  the  ^ir.n,      a  American  con- 

Conquista,  the  captain-g'^^ntl  Chih  "T  °'  u"  ^°""*  ^«  '^ 
a-.bl,  of  landeS  propriety's  t^'lZnTZt:'  '''''  ^? 
concerting  measures  for  an  overthrow  of  th^qu  P^^P««e  of 

having  for  its  president  the  eoun    himself  ^  ^7''-   "^  J""*^' 

and  an  election  was  ordered  t^llf'  """'  ^^^^^^ingly  formed, 
Entering  upon  their  o^nZ:^:j'Z:\^^^^^^-^^^- 
bers  of  the  mdenendpnt  ^^„„  ,         ujooasfiect,  the  mem- 

t'^e  court  of  roy!rX::ZTrZtt  *^  ^"""'  '''  ''-'''  ^' 
equahty  to  the  inhabitants.  ^''''  '"'^"""^  liberty  and 

Three  brothers,  named  Carrera,  who  had  fnV.n 
in  opposing  the  partial  system  J      ''''':.  *'^«°  ^  promment  part 
tricts,  after  Lt  abuse  h  d  C  eo/reI7b    ? '  '''  '^"*^"'  ''^^ 
a  new  disturbance,  and,  gain  ng  ove^  1  'if.^'"  .^°"^^^««'  ^^'--^ted 
party,  succeeded  iL  disLlvin^first   tl  '  'f  ^'  '  considerable 

wards  the  congress  itself,  leavLth^r^^t!rr'.T  •'""'''  '""^  '''''■ 
in  the  hands  of  a  coun  il  of  three  amon!  f" '"^^^^*^°^  ^^  ^^-^3 
own  number.  '    """"^  ^'^'^"^  ^^s  one  of  their 

.  m  .hro„ing  off  L  fl.  with  WW  *  etrr:'',°*r''  "™ 
tnei  Tl,c  disaflbaion  of  ,l,e  inhartTJ  ami  ,f  r  "*  ""  ''"• 
«ak-e„ed  the  power  of  the  solf-crerdlTe  Irf  nr"'""'' "''"'' 
"itoipositio.1  of  the  Peruvian  »„tl,„  .  f  ?    °'"'''  """""I  ""e 

-ording,,  dispatched  a;;:;trLl,  p'  """'^  "'  ^""" 
the  country.    That  officer  in  IRl T         I  /       '"'"^'^  '"  "«i^e  "1'"" 

over  the  tip,  „    CoZ.Ton   '  1  Tl   ,     '"1°  ""'"'•  "'"'■  «»"'"'8 

-ted  a.  hi,  -ca.p,„c:r:i,r::^^t"r;iu2"fh.'j^ "":  " 

Jicnorai  Gorcr^  co„.in„i„g  ,„  ^arr,  ,„a.t„r,  „,th  a  high  haud, 


'■I* 
'  -Ml 


292 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTOKY. 


and  making  use  of  his  military  commission  to  commit  many  acts  of 
tyranny  and  oppression,  was  deposed  from  his  command,  and  the 
office  of  commander-in-chief  was  bestowed  upon  the  celebrated  Col 
onel  O'Higgins.     With  his  brother  Luis  Carrera,  he  was  shortly 
afterwards  taken  prisoner  by  the  royalists.     The  patriots,  under 
their  new  general,  eftected  little  or  nothing  until  the  spring  of  1814 
when  such  signal  advantages  were  gained  over  the  invaders,  that  a 
treaty  was  negotiated,  by  the  terms  of  which  the  Peruvian  forces 
were  to  be  withdrawn.     Meantime,   Chili  was  distracted  by  new 
revolutions  and  disturbances.     The  junta  was  dissolved,  and  Lastra 
the  governor  of  Valparaiso,  was  created  dictator,  only  to  be  dis- 
placed by  the  intrigues  and  influence  of  the  Carreras,  who  had  made 
their  escape  from  captivity. 

The  royalist  general  neglected  to  comply  with  the  treaty,  and 
maintained  his  position  until  autumn,  when  powerful  reinforcements 
having  arrived  from  Peru,  he  overran  the  whole  country,  and  com- 
pelled the  rebellious  provinces  to  submit  once  more  to  Spanish 
oppression.  "The  inhabitants  became  the  victims  of  royal  ven- 
geance; arrests,  imprisonments,  punishments,  and  banishments  fol- 
lowed, filling  the  country  with  terror,  sufl'ering,  and  horror.  More 
than  one  hundred  patriots  were  exiled  to  the  desert  island  of  Juan 
Fernandez,  three  hundred  and  eight}'  miles  from  the  coast."* 

For  the  final  establishment  of  their  independence,  the  Chilians 
were  indebted  to  foreign  assistance.  An  army  of  republicans,  under 
General  San  Martin,  governor  of  the  province  of  Cuyo,  in  the  eaily 
part  of  the  year  1817,  was  marched  across  the  Andes,  and,  joining 
the  patriots,  annihilated  the  Spanish  power  in  Chili  for  ever.  The 
subsequent  campaigns  of  the  combined  armies  of  that  country  and 
of  Buenos  A^'res,  e.-^pccially  those  connected  with  the  liistory  of  the 
establishment  of  Peruvian  independence,  will  be  found  briefly  nar- 
rated in  another  portion  of  our  history. 

In  the  year  1825,  a  constitution  was  framed  by  the  congress  of 
Chili,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  which  the  country  has 
been  subsequently  governed. 

O'Higgins  remained  at  the  head  of  aflairs  in  Chili  for  the  term  of 
six  years  from  the  jjcriod  of  his  elevation,  April,  1817.  lie  was 
generally  esteemed,  both  for  his  military  services,  and  his  good  in- 
tentions in  the  conduct  of  the  civil  adiniiiistratii)n;  but  the  unsettled 
condition  of  the  country  in  those  early  days  of  the  republic,  required 
*  Nilus'  History  of  Scmtli  America  and  Mfxioo. 


CHILI. 


298 


a  i5rmer  hand  in  the  correction  of  nh  ,  ^^' 

Bight  and  control  over  subordinate  nffl'^'rl '"  '"°''  thorough  over- 
the  patriotic,  but  negligen  dTeet  iT  f'-'"  "^^^  ^-'^----t-^  V 
to  Peru,  where  he  was  rece  ved  w.»  r  '' '^'^"^'^'^^  ^«  ^^^-^-l 
where  his  services  in  the  caZo{7eluT"'  "'  ^'^^^"^^'^"'  -'^ 
an  appropriation  from  the  governmenr  '""  """''  '"^"'^^'^  ^y 

For  several  years  nft«r  r»TT-     • 

turbed  and  tumultuousstte  tS' "'  '^'^"^"'•^'  ""'''''  ^^  -  -  ^lis- 
to  maintain  order,  or  to  carry  ^  J'.^ '''"t'^'^^^  P'-esidents  were  unable 
the  government.     la  182980  o    •  ?'"'  ^'^  giving  stability  to 

of  legislation  being  claimed  CplrvTlvf  "^..'"^^ '"*' ^'^  ^^^^^ 
president,  and  by  a  junta  appoi S  h  ^  ^  ^'^^  '°"S^^^«'  ^^^^  the 
from  the  various  disaffectedTown  1n^^  '^"'^^  ^^"*  ^^  ^«  Santiago 
General  Prieto,  flavoured  the  "nta  an,"'- "':'  ^'^  ^™^'  ■-^°- 
gressional  forces,    under   General    R  '".  '^^"^^'  ^^^0'  ^^e  con- 

O'Higgins'  successor  in  the  rreir^r°"  '''^'''  ^^°  ^^^  been 
At  a  general  election,  held  immed  hpl  Vv  ^""^P^^^^^J  defeated. 
was  chosen  president  of  the  rubhc  ^  '  engagement,  Prieto 

Under  the  vio-nrnna  ^  i    •   • 
advice  andassis^anr  ft::j;;::f^^«^  '''''  °^^^^^'  -^-.  ^y  the 
avoided  the  errors  and  con  00";  T  "^^'"^^'  ^'^°-  ^-^^^-^ 
powers  of  government  we reTo^d    fl?'"' "' ^"'^  P^^^^^^^^«^°^«'  ^'' 
1-hed.     The  organi.atioroVrmt      ^/f"'°^^'^"^^^  -'^   -tub- 
effectual  check  to  the  enterprise    ':::,•     '"  "^T"''  ^^^^^^^^  - 
J«d.c.ous  financial  measures  revived    I       "i;"'^''"'^  adventurers; 
-stent  course  of  firn.,  and  necei   L   !  ^"''^  "•^'^''  ^"^  a  con! 
^a^vs;,  gave  security  to  life  and  prope  fv  ^'"'  administration  of  the 

The  year  1836  was  memonlX  f      •^" 
ox-director,  Ramon  Freyre  to  hi     '^  unsuccessful  attempt  by  the 
^^--  L.ma  for  Chilocrt'efding  folr^  I  ^T^^^^^"""     ^«  ^^^^ 
-"-ast  of  Chili,  but  Iho  gov  nLe„t     "       *  "^^''^  '^''  ^-^^l'--" 
a';t;c.pated  the  moven.ent     1  w  w    ^'^"^  "'^'^^  "^  ^^«  ^^-S"«, 
-;   h,s  shipa  fell  into  the  handtof  trcTr  '"  '^'""^'  ''''  <'- 

1  f'e  d.sa/lection  of  Colonel  vtl  ^'^'*'"'- 

anny  of  Chili,  produced  more  2aT'  '''"",^  ^"  '^"'"'"''^"^^  '»  the 

;^-^-  of  rebellion  was  t      s  "    ^of  T^''^-     ''''''''  ^^^™- 

'e  was  reviewing  the    troops      ',  ""'  ^''''^'''  "^ 

)^;'v,I  war.     Vidaurre  atta  k^d  y.Unn  "'"  ;"""^^^^^^^'^3^  fo"owed 

^'^'  -x'ed,  and  he  saw  his  followers  ',  ^"'  '^"^  ^^^^  ^««  ^^^'^ 

"■'^«''^'">ate  Portales  loll  ,  "-^n^  "^'^''f  ^"^  scattered.     The 

•'^•^''"tothedisappomtedrageofhis 


2t)4 


•ni  K    I'KOI'I.K'S    IK. OK    Ol''    lUKTOIiV. 


OMptors.  He  liml  rcCiiscil  to  liMul  liiinst'll'tit  Urn  viows  oflliti  rcvolu- 
iioiiiHfs,  iillliouiili  Wiiriu'il  thut  his  lilb  (U'luMulcd  upon  liiHtclccision. 
NVIicii  l-lic  Hill'  of  the  (liiy  wius  lU'oidod,  the  ciiptivo  iiiiiiistcr  was  Hliot, 
aiitl,  tlic  lii'Ml  lilt'  not,  i'nily  tiikiiifj;  od'ci-t.,  wiih  dispiitcluMl  hy  bnyoiu'lH. 
His  hiuly  was  louml  lyinj;  in  tlui  roivil  \v1um>  the  insnrgcnt  IbrcrM  had 
(lispiMsod.  'rii(>  principal  loniontcrsoC  this  ontbivuk  })ai(l  tlio  roilbit 
of  (hiMr  ivlu'llion  with  tlioir  lives. 

'I'li(<  natnral  n-sonrci's  of  the  Chilian  ropnltlie  are  groat.  Tlio  soil 
is  exi'<>etlingly  IVniti'iil,  and  the  peenliar  conformation  ol'tlK"  eoniitry 
renders  n  system  of  irrigation  extensively  availal)le.  The  niines  of 
the  preeious  metals  aro  rich  and  pnxluetive,  wiiile  those  of  copper 
are  among  the  most  valuahle  ever  disoovered.  (lood  harbours  and 
a,  favourable  geograjthieal  position  alVord  facilities  for  an  (>xt(Misivo 
eon\meree.  Sueii  advantages,  combined  with  a  delightful  variety 
oi'  elimaU'  and  seeni'ry,  render  Chili  a  desirable  place  of  residence 
but  it.s  growili  lias  been  hardly  in  proportion  to  its  resouives.  It 
apjiears  that  the  government  has  lately  held  out  new  inducenieuts 
to  iinmigrant.s  from  other  countries,  and  has  olTered  faeililies  for 
their  estublishuient,  well  calculated  to  attract  the  enterprising  uud 
industrious. 


^'1 


I"  L  0  11  I  D  A. 


CHAl'TEB,   I. 


J  lU  N    r  0  N  0  K    hf.    ],]>()  K  I, ,  «    V  n  V  . 


-IIIN     inUTII.  — l.rsAHTUOIJH     AT 
AN  I.     NAItVAia.~||,,;,(,K,\,^.„o     I,  K 

A.  —  HIH  KXl'K- 
«AIU;|(    TO   TIIK    I, NT  Kir  I  a  It. 
— CONTIiSTS   WITH   TIIK   INlMANs, 


I'    T  II  H 
HIH 


TKMI'TS   ov    AYM.ON 

HOTO.  —  AIM'OINTKI.  (n.VKIINOUoKriMI 
DITION  TO   P  1,0  II  I  DA. 


TiiK  ])ejuitifu]  name  of  Florida  rpstrir.fml  r 
<•>  -^  «ingle  province,  and  rJVT^  st^""     •'•"  "\""""'^' 
Insto,^  of  America,  applied  to  a  v.^t'Sr^.""?  '"  '^  ^'"'■^^ 
'H-arly  all  the  eastern  portion  of  .1  ,      ""*''^'  «"''"■'''^'>'^' 

Af     ■  r  '  "'  ^''"  W""ifi'it,  ])etwc('n  r.it..„1..  ,     I 

Mexico.     In  narrating  tl.c  settlen.ent  of  the  wlTj  \ 
]i;i«  hcen  made  of  Tn-m  TV>.        i    t  "^  '"'^'^■^>  ""^"'"'ii 

tlio.sc  wjio  bathed  in  it     T     r  ,  restore  youth  to 


29(] 


TlIK    rKOl'I.K'H    HOOK    OK    IlISToUV, 


cii'imil  S(i  iilliiriii;:-,  hy  rciulj  voliiiitoni'M,  on   tlui  .'M  of  ^^il^■ll    initj 
lie  set  sail  iVom  I'orlo  Ifico.     'I'oiicliing  at  (iuanaliaiii,  uml  iiiakiiMr 
in(|iiiri('s  willioiit  .success,  Cor  lJuMli'sin>(l  rc|^noii,  lie  liciil  on  to  fja. 
n..rlli-\vcst,  and  on  I  he  L'Ttli,  canui  in  n\'^h\,  of  land.     On  \\\(\  'Jd  of 
April,  lii>  anclmrc'l   near  the  inonlli  orwliat.  is  now  culled  tlie,  St. 
.lohn's  river,  and  landin.i^',  on  tlic  followinfr  day,  took   po.sscssion  of 
the  country  in  tlic^  name  of  the  Spanish  sovereigns.      It,  was  Pulm 
Sunday  (Pascnii  Florida),  on  ucooiitifc  ofwliicli,  a.s  well  as  oCtlu;  gay 
and  (lowery  nppoaran<'e  of  tlu^  eounlry,  lie  bestowed  on  it  tlie  namn 
<■>{'  I''loiida.      For  ,s(>veral  weeks  lie  stood  .southward  along  the  sliore 
rre<iiiently  landing,  and  .searching  in  vain  Cor  his  Couiitain  oC  youth 
and  tlie  gold  witli  wliieh  the  labled  land  abounded.     On  the  1  1th  of 
.luiie,  ho  sot  sail  I'or  home,  and  arrived,  after  tedious  navigation,  tho 
victim  of  di.-^appointment,  in  Porto  Rico.     Tlieneo  the  old  eavalicr 
repaired  to  Spain,  where  lie  underwent  some  raillery  from  tlie  wits 
about  court,  but  obtained  the  appoiiitnumt  of  governor  of  the  lunvly- 
di.^covered  region,  and  tinally  regained  the  comnmml  of  Porto  iiico. 
At  that  island  he  remained  until   ITi'Jl,  when,  stimulated  by  the 
renown  of  Cortes,  he  again  fitted  out  two  vo.s,sels,  and  made  a  Crc.sli 
voyage  to  the  land  oC  his  di.scovery.     With  a  consiilcrable  Corce,  ho 
laiuleil  (Ml  t!ieeo;ist,  and  was  soon  engaged  in  combat  with  the  In- 
diaii.s,  who  bravely  deCended   their  eounlry  against   tlie   invaders. 
"Wounded  by  an  arrow,  the  governor  was  carried  on  board  his  .ship, 
and  sailed  for  Cuba,  where,  soon  alVcr  his  arrival,  he  expired  from 
the  elVeet  of  his  wt>uiid,  aggravated  by  mental  uneasiness  and  di.sap- 
liointincnf.     .V  Latin  (>pitapli  chronicled  hi:-  name  and  exploits: 
".l/o/f  sitli  lute  Jiirtis  irijitirscan!  ossii  Leimis, 
Qui  licit  J'liclis  wmiina  imif^jia  siiis." 
Boiu'iitli  tliis  iiKiiiiid  ri'st  the  bones  of  tlii>  viilijiiit  I.ion, 
Who  ill  \m  doi'ds  8ui-|mssi'(l  tho  niinu'.s  of  l\w  t'iimous. 

Snliseciuent  expeditions  to  this  land  of  natural  beauty  and  imagin- 
ary expectation,  I'ov  a  long  pi>riod,  {ire.^ent  but  a  repetition  of  sulfcr- 
ings  ;ind  di.-^asters.  f.ucas  Vas(|ue/,  de  Ayllon,  .sailing,  with  three 
hundreil  men,  to  what  is  now  known  as  South  Carolina,  was  cut  oil', 
with  nearly  all  his  command,  by  the  hostile  Indians.  Pamphilo  de 
Narvaez  (def  att-d  and  captured  by  Cortes  at  Cempoalla,  in  ^fexieo) 
in  lo'JS,  with  four  liundied  men,  landed  on  tlu>  western  coast  of 
l""lorida,  and  penetrated,  in  the  vain  hope  of  treasure,  through  the 
marshes,  to  Appalachee.     A  third  of  his  command  jierished  of  liun- 


'\ 


FLOUIDA. 


297 


gcr,  or  were  slain  by  tl.e  r.nli.ns,  on  their  rotnrn,  and  ti.e  rem.inclcr 
]osu,g   he,r  way,  were  iinally  stopped  by  an  ann  of  tl      Ja  ' 

In  tins  extremity,  the  almost  hmolis  task  w.s  nn.W  l 
con.tn.c.ing  vesse^  wherewith  to  rO^in  th  J:^;,;^^  :  ^t:^  J 
m  act  the  rehcs  of  a  cavalcade  into  a  squadron,  i>  po«sib  fo  CS 
jfll.  Sfrrups,  spurs,  and  every  article  of  iro,  wroucd.t  on  a  r"de 
forge,  were  converted  nto  nails;  the  tails  and  manes °o  the  hor  es 
wisted  wuh  d)res  of  the  palm,  were  used  for  rigging,  and  heir  sS 
for  water-casks.     The  shirts  of  fl,r>  0^1  r  °  "^ 

*i,      4-      -11  ^'^^  soldiers,  cut  open  and  sewed  to 

Am.imn)  live  miserable  barks  were  natel,e,l  tn™il ,.,  ,     ^ 

whiel,  forty  or  my  „en,  elosoly  ero  v  e     '    °t  ll  '".T''  "' 
d»p,.r,c<l  and  s„„„„wed  „p  by'te„,,,e,.s  'a'  e  „  en       e"* 

=,^:s:::?:s^be-s::^rr=-::x 

rlrry  ■      °""""'*"«'«  "o-itoeJ,  i.  hardly  r-ecorded 

HetlTd'etrr  T'"™"°  ""''  ""'"""""'  ='"'  ™«  "■»'  of 

ofTu     T  ,,.t:, ';  '  ''  T""°r' '"  ""••  "'""'"'■  of  "-«  Conquest 
N„,  w'  1 1        """''™/f™''«'-.  "loio  whole  estate,  or,  reaebi,,.-  the 

•     «      ed  ^JTr    '°  '"""  "'"■  ■''"  "'""  '"'  -1'ieve.ent 

laj.  ,„en«„„ed,  had  applied  to  the  crolt "^h     j  ;  't^^lIT 

ceutr  tlie  ollices  of  governor  and  captain-creneral  both  nf  n„i  i 


298 


TUE  PfiOFLK'8   HOOK   OV  HIBTOKY. 


making  frcah  preparations  for  his  enterprise,  and  finally,  on  the  18th 
of  Alay,  1580,  with  nine  vcsboIh,  set  sail  from  Havana.  In  a.  fo^ 
days  ho  landed  at  Tampa  Bay,  whore  ho  was  soon  involved  in  war 
with  Iliriga,  a  native  caci(iue,  who  had  sullercd  much  wrong  at  tho 
hands  of  Narvaez.  Among  tho  hostile  Indians  ho  discovered  one 
Juan  Ortiz,  a  soldier  of  that  commander,  who  for  many  years  had 
been  captive  with  them,  and  who  proved  exceedingly  useful  as  an 
interpreter.  By  hib  good  oflices  and  his  acquaintance  with  tho  coun- 
try, several  desirable  alliances  with  native  chiefs  were  affected;  and 
the  army,  as  it  marched  into  the  interior,  was  abundantly  supplied 
by  them  with  provisions. 

The  town  of  Ochili,  situated  on  an  ancient  mound,  and  containing 
five  hundred  houses,  was  taken  by  surprise,  and  tho  invaders  pro- 
ceeded to  Vitaehucco,  the  capital  of  a  province  of  the  same  name. 
For  three  days  an  apparently  friendly  intercourse  was  rnaiiitiiinod 
witli  the  inhabitants;  but  on  the  fourth,  as  the  Spaniards  were  quit- 
ting tlie  town,  the  chief,  who  marched  by  the  side  of  Ue  Soto,  sud- 
denly snatched  the  sword  from  his  sheath,  and  attempted  to  run  him 
through  tho  body.  His  warriors,  (to  the  number  of  six  thousand 
we  are  told)  posted  in  the  wood,  at  this  signal,  rushed  on  their  guests 
and  attacked  them  furiously;  but  the  latter,  assisted  by  their  native 
allies,  after  fighting  nearly  all  day,  repulsed  them  with  much  loss. 
Marching  onward,  they  took  the  town  of  Osichili  (Tallahasoche)  after 
a  sharp  fight,  and  thence  proceeded  to  Appalachee.  In  a  swami) 
before  this  place,  the  natives,  gathered  in  great  numbers,  gave  them 
battle,  but  were  defeated,  and  the  town  was  won.  Hero  the  Spanish 
general  took  up  his  winter-quarters,  his  vessels  being  brought  around 
into  the  Appalachee  river. 


i 


TLOUIDA. 


290 


CHAPTER   U. 

TIIU0UOKTHKlNTKUIOU,  —  KIN(iTU«CAL00HA,  — HIS  STATE 

AM)  iIAUai,T,N,.;H,S.-HIS  8KCRKT  T  R  K  A  C  ,.  E  U  Y  -OHM' 

MTTLE  AT  M  A  U  V  I  L  A.-CON  FL  AOUAT.ON  OP  THE  !    WX 

AXD     VICTOUY     OF     THE     81' A  N  I  A  K  D..-M  U    iVous 

SPIRIT  OF   THE  CAVALIEUs,_,,sroNl.ENCY  or 
J)E  SOTO.  — HE  RESUMES  THE  MAKCH. 

A  GOOD  harbour,  with  i.ulications  of  gohl,  was  reported  by  an 
explonng  party  to  ex.st  an  hundred  and  eight;  miles  westw  dXnd 
a  young  Jnd.an  pnsoner  also  averred  that  in  his  eountry  u.  tl  e 
eastward,  was  an  aburulanee  of  the  precious  n.etal.  "  W  er'eupon  " 
says  one  of  the  Portuguese  who  wrote  a  history  of  the    "      Z) 

and  re  u.c(l,  as  f  he  had  seen  it  done  a  hundred  times  or  as  if  thp 
Dev.1  had  taught  him;  insomueh  that  all  who  understood  t^e    n^ 
or  of  working  m  the  Mines,  averred  that  it  was  impossible  for  hi 

V'lStiTn^oTttl'r''""^''^^'''^'  ''^^  ^•''  --=  -^i" 
le  delation  of  that  Indian  passed  lor  a  real  truth,  because  of 

t  c  crcunis  anees  wherewith  he  confirmed  it."     Dependingon  tl  " 

agam  took  up  its  march  on  an  enterprise  perhaps  the  most  .lis-.s 

rous  ,n  Amenean  history.     No  gold  was  found,  n  m.lyZJsof 

.-eansorne  travel  through  marsh  and  forest,  and  great  suffrini  was 

con  mually  endured  by  the  explorers  and  inflictel  on  tre  na  v^es  " 

the  drudgery  of  carrying  them  further      A  ]Lth  j 

their  course  to  the  north  a^id  west  tC         i       ^^  ^     ^  ''"'"^^^^ 

'•'^  ^"^  ^^^st,  the  invaders,  crossing  the  Cher- 


800 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


okee  country,  by  the  1st  of  September,  came  to  the  domain  of  a 
chieftain  named  Tuscaloosa,  of  gigantic  size  and  desperate  courage 
who  ruled  over  a  great  territory.     A  river  and  even  a  state  capilal 
still  bear  his  name,  which,  probably,  according  to  frequent  custom 
was  identical  with  that  of  his  province.  ' 

This  powerful  chief  dispatched  his  son  to  the  Spanish  commander 
with  a  friendly  message  and  an  invitation  to  his  court.    Seated 
before  his  door,  surrounded  by  attendants,  those  of  the  highest 
.  quality  being  nearest  his  person,  he  received  the  strangers.    A  hu^e 
umbrella,  of  deer-skin,  was  held  over  his  head,  and  the  Spaniards 
could  not  avoid  admiring  his  state,  his  gravity,  and  the  splendid 
proportions  of  his  frame.     Strange  and  wonderful  as  the  fiery  evo 
lutions  of  cavalry,  studiously  displayed,  must  have  appeared  to  him 
he  maintained  a  composure  as  rigid  as  that  of  the  inca,  under  simi- 
lar circumstances,  nor  would  he  even  rise  to  meet  De  Soto,  thouoh 
he  seated  that  commander  by  his  side,  and  addressed  him  with  court 
eous  civility.     When  the  discoverers  again  took  up  their  march 
he  accompanied  them,  mounted  on  a  strong  war-horse,  and  guided 
them  to  his  chief  capital  of  Mauvila  or  ^faubila,  (whence,  doubtless 
the  present  name  of  Mobile,)  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Alabama 
and  Tombigbee  rivers.     It  consisted  of  some  eighty  houses,  of'im- 
mense  size,  some  of  them  sufficing  to  lodge  fifteen  hundred  persons 
and  was  surrounded  by  a  strong  rampart  of  living  trees,  closely 
planted  and  impene*"ably  interwoven.  ' 

All  the  fair  show  of  amity  and  hospitality  which  the  chief  h\d 
displayed,  were  but  a  cover,  it  seems,  for  deadly  treachery  and  hos- 
tility.    Ecsolved  to  exterminate  the  invaders,  he  had  issued  secret 
charge  to  all  his  subjects  to  repair  to  Mauvila,  and  no  less  than  ten 
thousand  warriors,  if  we  may  trust  the  Spanish  account,  were  assem- 
bled  m  the  houses.     As  soon  as  the  strangers  arrived  there  Tusca- 
loosa, abruptly  quitting  his  guests,  entered  his  palace,  and  to  many 
requests,  through  Ortiz,  that  he  would  rejoin  them,  returned' no 
reply.     Dinner  being  finally  ready,  a  more  peremptory  invitation 
was  sent  in,  on  which  an  Indian  chief,  his  eyes  flashing  fire,  stepped 
fortli  from  the  royal  premises,  and  cried  fiercely,  "Who  are  these 
robbers!   these  vagabonds!  who  keep  calling  to  my  chief  Tusea 
loosa,  'come  out!  come  out!'  with  as  little  reverence  as  if 'he  were 
one  of  them?     By  tlie  Sun  and  Moon,  this  insolence  is  no  longer  to 
be  borne.     Let  us  cut  them  to  j.ioces  on  the  spot,  and  put  an  end  to 
their  wickedness  and  tyranny."    As  he  bent  his  bow,  a  Spaniard  cut 


FliOBIDA. 


BOl 


him  down   and  forthwith  swarms  of  warriors,  armed  to  the  teeth 
poured  out  of  every  lodging.  ""  "'e  leein, 

A  furious  battle  within  the  town,  immediately  commenced    the 
soldiers  umJer   heir  redoubted  leader,  fighting  valiantly,  and  striv 
n.g  to  hold  out  tni  the  main  body  of  their  comrades  s.ould  come 
up     With  some  loss,  they  finally  made  their  way  out  of  the  ram 
part,  whore  they  were  jomed  by  an  addition  to  [heir  forces.     For 
three  hours  the  contest  raged  with  great  violence  without,  the  sLn- 
lards,  chargmg  w>th  thcr  lances,  now  forcing  the  enemy  back  to  the 
gate  and  now  m  turn  repulsed  by  missiles  from  the  rampart.     T vv o 
hundred  cavahers  finally  dismounted,  and,  leading  a  desperate  charge 
forced  their  way  :nto  the  town.     The  houses  were  fired,  and  in  the 
midst  of  a  terrific  conilagration,  the  battle  raged  wi  h  unabat  d 
ury-the  Spaniar  s,  choked  with  heat  and  smoL,  quenchim    ttir 
durst  from  a  small  pool,  half  blood,  half  water,  near  the  pdis  d 
The  rear-guard,  under  Luis  de  Moscoso,  hastened  by  the  sound  o 
I     he  conflict,  at  last  came  up,  and  after  a  desperate  struggle,  lasting 
I    for  nine  hours,  victory  fell  to  the  Spaniards  ^ 

The  whole  town  had  been  destroyed  by  the  conflagration,  in  which 
gea  numbers  of  Indians  also  perished-among  tircm,  it  is  proba 
ble,  Tuscaloosa  himself,  lor  nothing  more  was  heard  of  him.    Tw  nty- 
five  hundred  bodies  wore  scattered  without  the  walls.     Eigluy-tni> 
of  he  Spaniards  had  fallen,  and  seventeen  hundred  woutds^^re 
(hstranited  among  the  survivors.     All  their  baggage  and  treasure 
was  destroyed,  and  the.r  slaves  had  escaped.     Sufli^H^g  grievouslv 
ior  want  of  surgical  aid,  the,  dressed  their  wounds  (like'tCe  sdd    rs 
of  Cortes  inhis  Mexican  campaigns)  with  the  fat  of  the  dead  In- 
dians.   To  do  them  justice,  they  treate.l  with  kindness  the  wounded 
and  dying  enemy,  of  whom  great  numbers  lay  around.     No  further 
.s.gn  of  hostility  appeared,  for  the  Tuscaloosau  warriors  had  mostly 
ponshed  or  been  disabled  in  the  battle.  ^ 

Lingering  amid  the  ruins  of  Mauvila,  De  Soto  heard  of  the  arrival 
of  sInpH  upon  the  coast,  supposed  to  be  his  own  fleet,  which  he  Ind 
ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Pensacola.  To  his  despair  and  indio,„tioi 
:;;::;::'  --'-.'-f  ^h,.  ..avallers  propose  to  seize  them  a°nd  pro-' 
ud  u,  Mexico  'Ihis  inutmous  .lisposition,  combined  witli  for  ner 
osses  and  misfortunes,  completely  overcame  his  spirit.  "AH  his 
OS  soon...     to  have  been  in  vain;  the  sacrifice  of  ills  Immense  J 

lor  nothm.      1  hore  nas  no  treasure  to  s.,i  !  to  ('„l,a  to  attract  fi-esh 


for  nothiiirr, 

D 


302 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


volunteers;  he  became  a  moody  and  disappointed  man;  but  in  his 
secret  soul  resolved  never  to  return  without  having  accomplished 
something  commensurate  to  his  former  fame  and  anticipations.  But 
the  fire  of  ambitious  enthusiasm  was  burnt  out,  or  quenched  by  dis- 
appointment. 'He  no  longer  pretended  to  strike  out  any  grand 
undertaking;  but,  stung  with  secret  disappointment,  went  recklessly 
wandering  from  place  to  place,  without  order  or  object,  as  if  careless 
of  time  and  life,  and  only  anxious  to  finish  his  existence.'"  Qa 
the  18th  of  November,  1540,  overawing  the  seditious  by  the  stern- 
ness of  his  demeanour,  he  again  set  forth  for  the  interior. 


CHAPT-EH   IIL 

DE  SOTO   MARCHES  WESTWARD. LOSSES    FROM    INDIAN    HOSTIL- 
ITY.— REACHES  AND  CROSSES   THE  MISSISSIPPI. — MARCHES 

TO   ARKANSAS.  —  RETURNS    TO    THE   MISSISSIPPI. 

HIS   DEATH   AND   BURIAL, — FATE   OF  THE   SUR- 
VIVORS.— THEIR   VOYAGE   TO  MEXICO. 


Crossing  the  Black  Warrior  and  Tombigbee  rivers,  at  the  end 
of  thirty  days,  De  Soto  arrived  at  the  village  of  Chicaza  (Chicka- 
saw), where,  for  two  months,  he  encamped,  on  friendly  terms  with 
the  surrounding  tribes.  At  length,  to  avenge  certain  injuries,  the 
latter,  by  night,  made  a  fierce  attack  upon  his  quarters,  which  they 
fired  with  burning  arrows.  They  were  finally  repulsed,  but  the 
Spaniards  lost  forty  men  and  fifty  horses  in  the  fight  and  conflagra- 
tion, and  during  the  remainder  of  the  winter,  the  survivors,  their 
lodgings  destroyed,  suffered  terribly  from  cold.  On  the  1st  of  April, 
they  again  took  up  their  march,  and  on  the  way  lost  fifteen  more  in 
storming  a  strong  Indian  fortress,  named  Alihamo,  defended  by  a 
gre-^t  force  of  the  enemy.  Still  pushing  their  toilsome  journey 
through  desolate  and  marshy  regions,  the  Spaniards  at  last  came  upon 
a  mighty  river,  which  Soto  called  the  Eio  Grande,  and  which  is 
now  known  as  the  Mississippi. 

Here  the  invaders  took  a  village,  named  Chisca,  to  the  intense 
rage  of  its  cacique,  a  little,  withered,  diminutive  old  man,  who,  how- 
ever, had  been  a  mighty  warrior  in  his  youth,  and  who  now' ruled 


FLORIDA. 


303 


L_ 


hi.  by  yielding  „p  W,  p,„„,,,  and    "tn™,  p  IS    ^tK 
aiong  tte.;     and  pn^'^I^,  aCrnier::!:.;^^ 

s^cators,  "to  see  IhL  InTJ  ^'""^''"V'sH"  «ays  one  of  the 
Le,  aad  very  k  ge  wTth  .heir  pl^r'  **,«'«  ">»»'  "»"% 

Standard,  Iha^loofekrLte.^rgaS'  "^  '"^'*'  ™' 

The  Spaniards,  however,  crossed  the  river*  witlnnnf 
and  resumed  their  mareh  t^  the  westward     TheTot         T°'  I'"' 
,    encountered,  appear  to  have  berd::;^  i«TitI  tl     7 
g:ous  ceremonies  of  the  strangers,  and.Vuring  a  g  eatlo^^^^^^ 

rain  to  the  God  te  bh  LZs'  "  Got '''  T'^  "  ^P"^^^  '''' 
i  pious  Las  Casas,  "  willingto  how  th.  t  Z  "  T'^"  ^'^^  '^' 
!    to  them  that  ca  1  to  hTm   n  trut^  f  ^j^^^*^^"^'  '^^'  ^^  l^^teneth 

■    ensuing  niglit   a  t^entrus  .        .'    T    ''''"'  '"  *^^  "^^"^^^^  ^^  ^'^^ 
o    "b"!',  it  plenteous  rain,  to  the  ffrent  inv  r^f  fU«  t  j-       .. 

L,e,e;.re,i„;r;,^;rnni„rdr:L:2^;;t-rr 

(the  Mississ  np  ),  and  thoro  huUrV,      u  •         /    ^  ™"  Grande 

Cuba  for  .a,';^,^  If ':::^l:*t^„r Tz  liii^rt^ 

with  the  caciu  of ,  i,  ttT       ,        T  ~'"  °"  ''"'-■■"'li'  '«""» 

^'.--, ..  «,e,y  p_„,,  a:.i"::;-e..  '::,r:;- :- 

*At  the  Lower  Chickisiw  Uli.ff   •♦  u  "^ 

places;  bet.eon  t,.  3.th  and  SStLtlnrrn^IS;"  "'  '"^  ""'"'  '^^"^^'"^ 


304: 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY, 


was  dispatched  across  the  river,  to  endeavour  to  gain  intelligence  of 
the  distance  and  direction  of  the  sea.  At  the  end  of  eight  davs,  the 
messengers  returned,  with  the  report  that  the  whole  country  ap- 
peared to  consist  of  vast  swamps  and  forests,  through  which  the 
river,  with  many  windings,  made  its  way. 

What  with  toil,  disappointment  and  anxiety,  the  unfortunate  Soto 
now  fell  ill;  but,  to  maintain  his  accustomed  ascendency  over  the 
natives,  dispatched  an  embassy  to  Quigaltanqui,  the  cacique  of  a 
great  province  bearing  the  same  name,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,  with  the  customary  announcement  that  he  was  the  oiTdpring 
of  the  Sun,  and  requiring  submission  and  a  visit.  But  the  shrewd 
and  haughty  chieftain  sent  back  the  reply,  "That  whereas  he  said 
he  was  the  Child  of  the  Sunnc,  if  he  would  drie  vp  the  Riuer  he 
would  believe  him;  and  touching  the  rest,  that  he  was  wont  to  visit 
none;  therefore,  if  hee  desired  to  see  him,  it  were  best  hee  should 
come  thither;  that  if  hee  came  in  peace,  hee  would  receive  him  with 
speciall  good  will ;  and  if  in  warre,  in  like  maimer  hee  would  attend 
him  in  the  town  where  he  was,  and  for  him  or  any  other  hee  would 
not  shrinke  one  foote  backe."  This  proud  and  magnanimous  re- 
pulse aggravated  the  illness  of  the  disabled  general,  who,  says  the 
old  history,  "had  betaken  himselfe  to  bed,  being  euill  handled  with 
fevers,  and  was  much  aggrieved  that  he  was  not  in  case  to  passe 
presently  the  River  and  seeke  him,  to  see  if  he  could  abate  that 
pride  of  his." 

Death,  however,  was  at  hand,  to  relieve  his  humbled  pride,  and 
to  quench  the  feeble  rays  of  hope  and  enterprise  that  might  yet  be 
lingering  in  his  bosom.  Seeing  his  end  at  hand,  lie  appointed  Luis 
de  MoBCoso  to  succeed  him  in  the  command;  and  taking  an  affection- 
ate  leave  of  his  surviving  comrades,  entreated  their  prayers  for  his 
soul,  and  charged  them  to  be  loyal  to  the  crown,  and  peaceful  and 
loving  with  one  another.  "Next  day,"  says  the  old  Portuguese, 
"being  the  One  and  Twentieth  day  of  May,  the  Magnanimous,  Vir- 
tu ou.s,  and  Valiant  Ca]itain,  Don  FcriK.mh  de  Solo,  Governour  of 
Ciihn,  and  General  of  Florida,  yielded  his  soul  to  God."  In  this 
forlorn  and  miserable  situation,  at  the  early  ago  of  forty-two,  perished 
one  of  the  bravest  and  most  enterprising  leaders  of  adventure  in  tlie 
New  World — the  gradual  decay  and  melancholy  extinction  of  his 
fortunes  strangely  contnisting  with  the  suddenness  and  brilliancy  of 
their  culmination. 

"Uis  burial  was  a  strange  one;  but  not  unworthy  of  his  extraor- 


'LOBIDA. 


805 


dinary  career  and  of  his  great  discoveries     TJ,«  Q       •    ^ 
conoealed  his  death  from  tho  Tnr)        ?  Spaniards  carefully 

encouraged  to  rise  again!  h.,:Z'  'T"^;-*/^^^  should  be 
oak  was  cut  down,  and  a  ho  wTa  "e  if  Z t"^^' '"/^^^^"^'^ 
trunk.  In  this  singular  coffin  thi  hT  ^.^  '"*'^  °^  '^^  ^^^^7 
carefully  secured,  a'nd  in  the  dead  of  nUt  aJ^  ^^^  'T""'  ^^^ 
and  chief  cavaliers,  was  solemnlv  Inched tto.f  '^-^'^  ^""^ 
river,  nineteen  fathoms  in  depth  Tw!  T  '  ''"*''"  °^  *h« 
hundred  feet  below  the  surf!  e"  and  Ton^  *^- -^e  receptacle,  a 
wreck  and  drift  of  three  centuir  ni  ^  ""''  "^^"''^"^  ^"^  the 
renowned  adventurer    and  the  "  ''^°''  *'  '^'"^^"^  «^  *h« 

rolling  over  the  bones'  of  is  d  icoXl^T  "Ir'  '''  f''^'''^'^' 
monument  to  his  fame  "*         '°°^^^«^.  ^rms  a  fittmg  and  enduring 

we».w»rd,  hopi„gtore*VeTo„Trier''f  M™""-  *°  '"^ 
1%  to  October,  thev  pursuod  .1,1,1  """'=.'"™'=  "f  M™eo.    From 

in.0  the  rece«;  of  S  ;  WorH  tT'""™'^'^-'™''"*  ^^P 
distant  viow  of  the  EockTMo„,^L":''  r '"'"f  ''  ""'"'  '=™'  " 
l«,*sMhe,  <!„„„,  rstra^d  ZiXs   a":?  "r"'""' 

much  fighting  with  the  Indinn.,  .^     •  ^  ,  ^"  December,  after 

near  Guachoya.     Here  "h  !  !' ''^''"^'  '\'  ^^^^^  «f  t^e  Mississippi, 

every  partiole'ofi^Vee^^^^^^^  ^--'^'  ^^"^ 

rups  of  the  cavalry  in  the  dimluT         ^  P"soners  and  the  stir- 
were  at  last  finisLd    and    ^"^^^^^^^^^  Se-n  small  brigantines 

Spaniards,  now  reduced  to   he  tlber.flf  h^'  '^''^  '''''  ''' 
embarked.     The  nlidit  of  tl.;!  iv.?  ''^  hundred  and  fifty, 

original  number^  Stlt     f  tl""^^^^  ^°"J^  ^  *^^^^  °^  ^^^^ 
battered  and  rus  ed  -mTthel  ^!-  '''*''"'''  *^'^^'"  ^™°^^  being 

replaced  by  the  ^^^^'"'^  ^'  ^''^  ^^^^d  to  rags  of 

di^ie^InTriZ!?^^^^^^  -^-^-«^  ^natural 

finally  reached  itS  outlet  id  si  1  '  '"'""^'  ^^«  ^^^-^»-- 
for  Mexico.  For  iifu  th'el  T  ^''*^''^^^'  ^^«"S  *b«  o^'-^*. 
«fter  encountering  1^.1'''  /^  "''*''  ^^'^"^'  ^'^^  ^*  ^-^ 
Panuco,  near  the  town  of  thT  ""   '  ^'^''   "^^^«  ^^^   ^iver 

Mexico.    Leaping  on  shore   Cid'"?. "  *'"/""^'^^  °^  Spanish 
again  and  aga  n  and  return!!^!      ^^  J"^'  '^'^  ^'"''^^  '^^  ^^^th 

They  then  p^roce'ed  '  to  the  'v^  '    h'  '"   i'"'  '"  ''""^  '^"™°^- 

the  town,  where  all  were  greatly  affected  on 


306 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


beholding  them;  for,  wc  are  told,  "they  were  blackened,  haggard, 
shrivelled,  and  half-naked,  being  clad  only  with  the  skins  of  deer, 
buffaloes,  bears,  and  other  animals,  so  that  they  looked  more  like  wild 
beasts  than  human  beings."  Such  was  the  deplorable  result  of  an 
enterprise  sustained  by  such  ample  means,  undertaken  with  such 
sanguine  confidence,  and  carried  out  with  such  indomitable  courage 
and  perseverance;  but  the  true  interests  of  humanity,  after  all,  per- 
haps suffered  less  than  if  the  full  measure  of  expected  success  had 
been  attained — than  if  the  valiant  Soto  had  rivalled  the  career  of 
Cortes  and  Pizarro,  and  spread  desolation  over  realms  as  wealthy 
and  populous  as  Mexico  or  Peru, 


CHAPTEHI?. 

EARLY  FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS — BLOODY  CONTESTS  BETWEEN 

THE  SPANISH  AND  FRENCH  COLONISTS. — SPANISH  MISSIONS. 

— ENGLISH  DEPREDATIONS  AND  COLONIZATION   ON  THE 

COAST.  —  INVASIONS  OF  FLORIDA  BY  GOVERNOR  MOORE. 


After  the  utter  failure  of  the  last-mentioned  expedition,  so  fatal 
in  its  results  both  to  the  invaders  and  their  victims,  the  persecuted 
natives  of  Florida  enjoyed  a  season  of  repose.  The  river  St.  John's 
was  visited,  as  is  supposed,  and  named  May  river,  by  a  party  of 
Huguenots,  who  came  over  from  France,  in  two  vessels  commanded 
by  John  Ribault,  in  1562.  This  company  commenced  a  settlement 
on  the  Carolina  coast,  but  from  their  own  misconduct,  and  a  failure 
of  su{)plies  or  assistance  from  home,  the  project  fell  through.  In 
their  attempt  to  return,  in  a  -fssel  of  their  own  construction,  they 
were  disabled;  and,  fallin^  in  with  an  English  ship,  were  taken  to 
England. 

In  1564,  Een^  Lardoniere,  a  companion  of  Ribault,  was  entrusted 
by  Admiral  Coligny,  the  patron  of  the  first  enterprise,  with  the 
command  of  a  new  expedition.  This  party,  which  was  better  pro- 
vided with  the  es.sentials  for  an  establishment  in  the  wilderness  than 
the  former,  after  landing  at  the  abandoned  fort,  sailed  southward, 
and,  entering  May  river,  commenced  a  settlement  upon  it.-^  left  bank, 
a  few  leagues  from  i's  mouth.    A  friendly  intercourse  was  established 


FLORIDA. 


807 


with  the  natives,  anrl  thp  pr>lr.r,-.r  ™;  i.^  i 

the  precious  melala  were  eherlh  d  'L"''.'!'      '"' "'"'"S '"^"""■■'"f 
necessar/husbandry     Before   Wn      ,  fH'"  °'  '""^''^  ""'' 

.areathLe.t.erM„(w'?r„       e;Ter:.h1*!rf\""7"^ 
the  country,  when  Ribanll  lrri„.j      "f        '"''P'""'°f'''""idoimig 

flee,  and  aWndantXptr'"'  °"  *''  °™''  '"*  ^  welLappointed 

Eardlj  had  the  sufferino-  coloni^tq  t.'nn..  ♦  •  • 
able  reinforcement,  when  th^;  wercatd  iTJ^  TJ  "J'  ""™- 
against  an  enemy  more  cruel  3  i "  i  T  ^  ''"'^"^  them.«lve, 
wU  territory  they  were  Mabliaher*^  A^t  ■'T.""'  """-S^'  '" 
Pedro  Menend^e.  d/Ayil,re*,''off  it::  fl'e" -^  "Z 
after  an  attempt  at  the  seizure  of  some  of  Rib-inlt'«  1-         u  t ' 

:rri;Se^'n";hr"""'^"'^^^^^^^^^^^ 

01  OL  Augustine      On  this  occasion  was  founded  the  town  of  thit 
name,  whose  ancient  and  dilapidated  walls,  narrow  streerand  Fu 
ropean  architecture,  notwithstanding  modern  improveme  ts    s^ill" 
carr,  us  back  to  the  earliest  settlement  of  the  country     The  lar'e 

...d^o.ingthehLL"«:j:S2r^ 

Eibault  did  not  wait  for  another  attack,  bnt,  hopeful  of  securing 
iSre'^He:::'^  --„»„.  .,le,  in  ;,Z.  with  hH 

treacherous  coast.    Menendez  tool    !d!rn  *\''''"««™»''  "'"I 

.«  elapse  before  the  .renci  2',  ttr f \- '  ^  it'irriatT 
to  make  a  rap.d  advance  on  the  unprotected  for^  on  May  rive  ' 
No  effectual  resistance  could  be  made,  and  the  whole  of  the  oZ 
».s  were  taken  captive  or  slain  in  the  encounter.    A,  The  men 

*p:rr:.re'bir;iS'r'^  ^"' '°  ^-"■-•'  - 
;™  placed,  i„.,cribcd  J:^^:2^^^:^^^l^rT""' 

but  as  heretics."  ^  '      ^°*  "^  Frenchman, 

-!Srpatroftba;:,'r:r°'  ^  "■?  -'"^— ■  "■»  '"'i- 

l>aiiy  oi  itiDauJt,  althou<<;h  numberintr  n^t-  p.,..  <•  • 

liuiK  red  men   mide  nn  ^ffi^.f     *  'mmoenng  not  far  from  six 

deternrined  2  l^c  cd  b  tnd  t^lT^r  U '''  /""""'J     "  ''" 
an  u„c„„d,.,onal  surrender  to  the  Spaniards.  °  •'n^^l't^r:^. 


308 


THE   PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


two  companies;  the  first,  consisting  of  two  hundred  men,  proceeded 
up  the  coast  as  far  as  Matanzaa  Inlet.  Here  they  were  met  by  Me- 
nendez,  who  had,  with  forty  soldiers,  sailed  up  the  sound  to  recon- 
noitre. A  French  soldier  was  sent  across  the  inlet  to  learn  what 
terms  could  be  obtained;  the  messenger  was  detained.  The  boat 
was  then  sent  across  for  ten  Frenchmen,  who  were  taken  behind  a 
sand-hill  and  murdered.  And  in  this  manner  were  the  two  hundred 
men  decoyed  across  the  stream  by  tens,  and  all  massacred  and  left 
on  the  sand,  to  be  devoured  by  the  birds  and  beasts  of  prey."* 

Ribault,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  his  followers,  gave  them- 
selves up  a  few  days  subsequent,  only  to  share  the  fate  of  their  mur- 
dered countrymen.  The  remainder  of  the  party  fortified  themselves 
upon  the  coast,  and  were  engaged  in  the  construction  of  a  vessel 
from  the  wrecks  of  the  fleet,  when  they  were  set  upon  by  Menendez 
and  driven  from  their  position.  Terms  of  favour  were  now  proffered 
by  the  conqueror,  and  were  accepted  by  all,  except  a  few  who  still 
feared  to  trust  to  the  promises  of  the  treacherous  Spaniard  and 
who  betook  themselves  to  the  wilderness  in  the  interior,  where  they 
probably  perished. 

The  outrages  perpetrated  upon  the  ill-fated  French  colony  were 
in  a  measure  revenged  in  1569,  by  a  private  expedition,  fitted  out 
and  commanded  by  the  noted  Dominique  de  Gourges.  With  a  small 
but  effective  force  of  adventurous  volunteers,  he  came  upon  the 
coast,  and  under  the  guidance  of  one  of  the  old  companions  of  Lardo- 
niere,  attacked  the  forts  which  had  been  taken  from  the  Frencli 
four  years  previous.  These  posts  were  surprised  and  carried  by 
storm,  although  garrisoned  by  a  superior  Spanish  force,  and  little 
mercy  was  shown  to  those  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  assailants. 
The  remains  of  several  of  those  put  to  death  by  Aleneadez,  still 
hanging  upon  the  trees,  were  taken  down  and  buried  by  the  orders  of 
Gourges,  who  directed  Spanish  prisoners  to  be  h  mg  in  their  places 
and  aflixed  this  label,  "Not  as  Spaniards,  but  as  murderers."  Hav- 
ing dismantled  the  forts,  the  invaders  made  good  their  retreat,  and 
sailed  for  France. 

Menendez  remained  in  undisturbed  possession  of  St.  Augustine 
and  as  no  fartlier  attempt  was  made,  for  a  long  period  of  years,  by 
any  other  European  nation  to  encroach  upon  the  Spanish  possessions 
on  this  coa.st,  full  opportunity  was  afforded  for  carrying  out  the 
views  of  the  colonists  in  the  propagation  of  their  faith  among  the 

*  Williams's  Florid/i. 


FLOKlJvA. 


809 


natives,  and  the  extenm'nn  r.f  *i.  . 

furtherance  of   tins  object    confro.:;  °^'°  missionaries,  in 

events  which  preceded  CsuToeZ  <£?"'''  "^^^  *^«  blo;dy 
sy^-  They  dispersed  thrs^e^  J  r^S"'  °'  ^'f  P^^^^' 
and,  trustmg  entirely  to  their  {^ood  fni^J,  .  T^"^  *^«  ^"^ians, 

«ion  from  society,  a.d  in  ardno  boir'^fo' f^^^^r  ^"  -'- 
conversion  of  the  natives.  Thev  succ;p7^  /  '  civilization  and 
'n  gaining  over  the  confidence  of  thZ  a  ""^  '^'^^"'^^'"g  extent 
the  Atlantic  sea-coast  far  into  the  uo!,.'  ^^^ertainers,  and  from 
numberless  tribes  were  brc^Lht  to  ,,  ?  ^  '""'"  ''  *^^  ^««*' 
the  Catholic  faith.  ^     *°  ^*  ^"^'*  ^  "0">inal  acceptance  of 

In  1586,  and  again  as  late  a^  iflfiR   *t-     « 
Florida  suffered  from  the  a ttaekVof  1     .^^'"f  ""'«'"«"*«  of 
er-nsers.     On  the  latter  oco  Jon    h/b  '"^  '^^'«««  English 

•''"'i  plundered  the  town  o  T  A.tt  '°'T'  ""^^^  ^^^^«.  ^^^-d 
an  Knglish  colony  was  founded  on  trt  "f  T  ^""«"  «^^---^<^« 
country  like  Florida,  where  tt  buVl  ^^'  "^  ^'"^^  ^'-«^-     I"  '^^ 

Pe-hable  nature,  and  where  thV:!! Xt'l"^  '"^^"^  "^  '^ 
the  necessity  for  any  impression  on  the ToH  in  th  """''  ^'''^''^'' 
a  few  years  of  desertion  suffice  to  oh  1  ''''''°"  of  houses, 

-ttlement.  A  new  growth  of  wootf?  ^T''  '^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^  « 
acterfrom  the  original,  serves  to  mfl?"!"*^^  '^'  ^'^^^«"*  «har- 
flelds;  but  the  traveller  unlllto  Jd\  '  '""'^'^^^  °^  ^^^  ^^^'^^^ed 
pancy,  would  scarcely  suppo  e  t^.^fj^  ^.^^'^^^'^^^  ^^  ^rmer  occu- 
^0  him  the  primeval  fo  est  tht  he  ^"r°  """^^'^  ''^''  ^PP«-« 
ever  echoed  to  the  busy  .ouUstftili:?^^^^^  around   hi.\ad 

f;^quent  changes   of  Jurisd^'  o^  I  S:,  ^^t"'"  ^^^  ^«'^^^*'  '^ 
changes.     Thriving  villnc.es  or  to^n!?  I-     ^"*   "^''*"^  "f  those 
or  English  colonist;  ux-rf  L "    J  M  /^'^^  ^^^"^^'  Spanish, 
-J -rce  a  vestige  now  rem'JZ;  t  , t^te  ^  ^'^^^^  P^^-^-. 
J  he  commencement  of  tv,.     •  l      '*-''^  existence. 

I.™<1.     Every  thing  promised  Z!,^     "'"'  •■^'»''»''  V  sea  and 

gnn  ,„.„  p„„.^^j^|  reiulbreements  Lad 


810 


Tll  K   TEOriiK'S   HOOK   OK    IIISTOKV. 


nrrlvcil  from  Spain.  Two  ixrined  vcsscIh  apjx'nrcd  oll'tlio  const,  and 
Mouio  ciVoctod  an  iininodiato  ri'troiit,  leaving  his  licet  and  stores  a 
j>ivy  to  tlio  enemy.  Ilis  principal  ollicer,  Colonel  Daniels,  to  whoao 
ciiergv  the  first  successriil  operations  of  the  cxjiedition  wcro  due, 
was  at  this  time  absent,  having  been  sent  to  Janiaiea  for  a  snp|)ly  of 
artillery,  prior  to  an  attack  on  the  fort  of  St.  Marks.  Ho  returned 
only  to  find  the  position  of  the  English  abandoned,  and  the  Span- 
iards in  complete  possession. 

The  sci'ond  attemj)t,  in  1704,  was  iijmm)  the  Spanish  and  Indian 
towns  in  West  Florida.  Unable  to  ])roeurc  assistance  from  the  legis- 
lature of  the  territory,  Mooro  collected  a  few  companions,  and,  pro- 
ceeding to  (he  head-quarters  of  the  diflerent  tribes  of  friendly  Creeks, 
readily  secured  their  cooperation  in  the  proposed  campaign  against 
their  old  enemies,  the  Yemasecs,  Appalaches,  &c.  A  post  known 
as  Lewis'  Fort,  ami  garrisoned  by  a  consideiablo  body  of  Spaniards, 
under  command  of  Juan  Mexia,  the  colonial  governor,  was  the  first 
point  of  attack.  Mexia  imprudently  gave  battle  without  the  walls 
of  the  fort,  and  was  completely  ovcrj)owered.  Ilis  followers  were 
mostly  slain,  and  the  place  was  destroyed.  Following  up  their  ad- 
vantage, the  invaders  ravaged  the  Avhole  of  that  portion  of  the 
country,  breaking  up  the  missionary  establishments,  and  dispersing 
or  destroying  the  Spanish  occupants.  Vivst  numbers  of  the  native 
inhabitants  were  carried  oil'  as  prisoners,  and  those  who  were  not 
doomed  to  slavery,  were  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  the  English  colony, 
to  the  northward  of  the  Savannah  river.  The  jjower  of  the  Span- 
iards was  afterwards  mostly  confined  to  their  settlements  in  Eiist 
Florida.  A  garrison  was  nevertheless  maintained  by  them  at  St. 
Marks  on  the  Appalaohe. 


FLOKIDA. 


811 


CHAPTER   ?. 

THE   YKMASKKS.— INVASION   OP   FLORIDA    II 


OKSSION    TO   OltKAT   IlltlTAIN 


V   OOLKTIIOIU'K.— 
■""■  TUItN  HUM, '8   L'OI  OM  V 
-^CESSION    TOS,.A,N._,NVA.S.ONOP   KAST  P,', 

inAPHOMTirKHMTKH  STATES -AC.mrio; 
OF    FLOIUI.A    HY    TUP    UNITKI)    8TATK8. 

In  the  frontier  Indian  war  of  1717,  ti.o  Vumasees  of  Flori.!-'  who 
bad  at  one  period  favoured  the  English  colonics  un  tl, .        7' 
;i- ..into  ..  general  eon.binatioJ  of  ^o^ZZ'^Z^'X 
t  cr  dcloat  by  General  Craven,  they  settled  in  East  Flor  da   ...  r 
ther  h|,a..Ksh  allies  a,.d  proteet<.rs.     They  we.-e,  howev         .'c  u 
w.t   severity  by  t^.e  territorial  governor,  Ayola,  and  vv"e  ";,  Ijl    d 
to  aba..d().i  their  first  settlements,  where  thev  h  ..1  ),„iu      '^""  I'^^'^'f 
a.ul  to  ta.e  u,  their  .narters  H.rU.er  I^J!;:^^::;'  A  '  C  £!; 
th..s  co,npu  sory  migration,  the  less  able-bodied,  t<.gc.ther  wk     hr 

:'Th::":L:^nr.f'''''^''^"'  ^-'^ '-'  upo.r  Ame^  1!:^ 

l.cse,  says  Will  a.ns,  "wore  presently  discovered  by  the  Knulish 
^^l.o  pursued  the  fugitives  in  their  launches,  on  which  tev  hid 
.  ountod  swivels;  these  they  brought  to  beilr  on  tlie  rn  si  I 
•starving  rabble,  who  had  not  a  tree  or  bush  to  protect  tZ  W 
were  murdered  ni  col,:  blood.  Four  hundred  weiJthus  a  Iter^ 
■H  of  three  thcnisand  that  now  survived,  more  than  two  t^Js 
ched  m  k.s  than  a  year,  by  hunger  and  discLes."  ^' 

n  1719  the  fort  at  Pensacola  was  the  scene  of  some  hard  nghti... 

g.irr..on.     1  he  fort  was  taken  and  retaken ;  but  after  several  severe 
llle  I'jench,  and  wns  destroyed. 

The  enmity  of  more  dangerous  neighbours  at  the  north  was  sul«e 
<)»M,lly  exerted  to  active  hostilities.    Tl,e  Indian  allies  ofTl    I" 
»« were  in  the  habit  of  making  inenrsil'  ""t  ,e     X  '  ^nt^ 

giouing  English  colony  to  encroach   upon  Spanish  territory 


812 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


The  marauding  expedition  of  the  Yemasees  was  promptly  revenged. 
A  body  of  volunteers  and  Indians,  commanded  by  Colonel  Palmer 
maruhcd  southward,  and  destroyed  most  of  the  Spanish  settlements 
north  of  St.  Augustine. 

A  period  of  comparative  quiet  ensued,  but  an  old  ground  of  quar- 
rel still  remained.     Many  of  the  negro  slaves  employed  on  the 
Englirth  plantations  continued  to  find  an  asylum  in  Florida,  and  the 
refusal  of  the  Spaniards  to  give  them  up  to  their  owners,  coinbineil 
with  the  recollection  of  other  wrongs,  finally  determined  the  colonics 
upon  a  systematic  invasion  of  the  peninsula.     The  plan  was  set  on 
foot  by  Governor  Oglethorpe,  the  most  noted  of  the  pioneers  of 
Georgia ;  and,  as  the  coast  was  clear  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  St. 
John's,  he  collected  at  that  point  (in  May,  1740)  not  far  from  two 
thousand  whites  and  Creek  Indians.     Marching  thence,  ho  seized 
upon  the  Spanish  forts,  Diego  and  Mo^a,  but  did  not  follow  up  his 
advantage  with  sufficient  celerity  to  make  an  effective  demonstration 
upon  the  capital.     Delay  in  the  operations  of  the  English  naval  force 
also  gave  opportunity  for  the  introduction  of  supplies  of  artillery 
and  j)rovi8ions  into  the  harbours.     No  impression  could  be  made 
upon  the  Spanish  fortifications  by  storm  or  battery,  and  in  the 
attempt  to  reduce  the  place  by  siege,  sickness  broke  out  amoiiir  the 
troops,  and  compelled  a  retreat  to  Georgia.     In  retaliation  for  this 
invasion,  a  large  force,  concentrating  at  St.  Augustine,  and  placed 
under  command  of  Manuel  Monteano,  governor  of  East  Florida 
proceeded  in  1742  to  attack  the  English  colonies.    With  no  loss  tliaa 
thirty-two  vessels,  bearing  some  three  thousand  men,  the  governor 
entered  the  Altamaha.     Oglethorpe  was  driven  from  his  position 
on  the  island  of  St.  Simon's,  but  retreating  to  Frederica,  he  made  an 
effectual  stand  against  the  greatly  superior  force  brought  to  bear 
upon  him.     Nothing  was  eftected  by  the  expedition. 

At  the  period  of  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  British  crown  in 
17fi,3,  its  prosperity  had  completely  declined.  The  few  remaining 
Spanish  inhabitants  for  the  most  part  removed  to  the  West  Indies 
leaving  the  experiment  of  colonization  to  immigrants  from  Great 
Britain.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  transactions  in  the  modern 
history  of  the  country  is  connected  with  the  introduction  of  this  new 
population.  One  Dr.  Turnbull,  in  1767,  proceeded  to  the  Levant, 
and  engaged  a  considerable  number  of  Greek  families  to  accompany 
him  to  Florida.  Touching,  on  his  return,  at  Corsica  and  Minorca, 
he  procured  a  further  supply  of  emigrants,  and  sailed  for  the  New 


FLOaiDA. 


838 


Wurl.1  with  about  fifteen  Imndred  .souls  aboard  his  vessels.  A  term 
of  throe  years  service  on  their  part  was  to  be  the  equivalent  for  the 
expense  of  transportation,  of  present  support,  a..d  of  a  bounty  of 
land  at  the  expiration  of  the  contract. 

A  grant  of  lands  wn.  obtained  near  Mosquito  inlet,  and  plantations 
were  hud  ou  on  an  extensive  scale.  The  principal  crop  raised 
cxc  usive  of  the  necessary  reservations  for  supplying  thecoh.ny  witli 
foo.l,  was  inc  igo,  and  this  proved  exceedingly  profitable  to  the  pro 
pr,e  or.  1  aking  advantage  of  the  ignorance,  simplicity,  and  isolLd 
romtion  of  his  employees,  the  doctor  ere  long  reduced  thorn  to  a 
.■omhtion  of  hopeless  servitude.  For  nine  years  they  were  kept  at 
the  severest  labour,  on  the  most  scanty  allowance  of  food,  and  n  arly 
.Institute  of  clothing.  Cruel  and  excessive  puni.shment  ;as  inflicted 
or  any  neglect  in  the.r  task.s,  or  for  any  triHing  offence  against  their 
yrant  or  his  overseers.  At  the  period  of  their  emancipation,  in 
In  J,  their  numbers  were  reduced  to  about  six  hundred 

he  manner  in  which  they  obtained  their  freedom  is  "very  graph- 
ically  described  by  Mr.  J.  L.  Williams  in  his  history  of  Florida.     It 
appears  that  several  Englishmen,  while  on  a  visit  to  New  Smvrna 
c  name  of  Turnbull's  settlement,)  were  engaged  in  conversation 
spectmg  the  imposition  practised  on  the  immigrants-" some  of 
them  made  the  remark  that,.if  the  people  knew  their  rights  they 
would  not  sufTer  under  such  slavery.    Vhis  was  remarktd  l.y     n 
intelligent  boy,  who  told  it  to  his  mother.     The  ohl  lady  summoned 
a  council  of  her  friends  in  the  night,  and  they  devised  a  plan  to Z 
.0.  ,,.tel  gence.''_   Emissaries  were  secretly  dispatched\o  St  Au 
gustine,   who,   naving  communicated,    by  good  fortune    with   the 
nttorney-general,  Mr.  Younge,  and  received  encouragement  flm  h 
returned,  and  reported  to  their  companions 
It  was  promptly  concluded  to  march  in  a  body  to  St.  Augustine 

w       ifohl  r  "«^^««'rP'-^>«^^•     "The  women  and  children, 

d  witilZ l'  ""■'  P^'^^'  "  ^'^  ^«"*^«'  ""^  th«  stoutest  men 
armed  with  wooden  spears,  were  placed  in  front  and  rear     In  this 

d^a^^  T'  T'  P'°"f  ^'  ^^"^  "^"^^  b^f-«  the  ovc^eers 
«M.overed  tl  at  the  place  was  deserted.     Some  of  these  were  well 

r  eased,  and  jcnned  them.     Others  informed  the  tyrant,   vhowa 

some  distance  from  the  place.     He  rode  after  the  fugiti;es,  anc  W 


81-i 


TllK   rKOlM.K'S   IJOOK   OF   IIISTOIJV, 


t,()ok  tluMu  before  tlu'j  rciiolicd  St.  Augustine,  unci  uaed  every  exer- 
tion to  persuade  them  to  return,  but  in  vain."  The  rights  of  thu.so 
jiersecuted  people  were  speedily  established,  and  a  tract  of  land  in 
the  north  part  of  tlie  eity  was  granted  to  them  by  the  authorities, 
'i'heir  descendants,  at  this  day,  ibrni  no  ineonsidcrable  portion  of  the 
inhabitants  of  St.  Augustine. 

When  Spain  came  again  into  poasessiou  of  Florida,  at  the  close  of 
the  war  (jf  American  revolution,  these  Greeks  and  Minoi'cans  were 
almost  the  only  portion  of  the  population  that  remained  in  the  conn. 
try.     'i'he  establishments  of  the  Englisli  were  generally  deserted,  and 
in  a  few  years  the  greater  portion  of  the  cultivated  districts  were  little 
less  a  wilderness,  than  when  white  men  first  set  foot  on  their  shores. 
Movements  were  set  on  foot  by  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  in  the  year  1811,  for  tlie  aetpiisition  of  the  Floridas  from 
S])ain.     Commissioners  were  apjjointed  to  confer  with  the  goverudr 
of  i'ensaeola  relative  to  a  cession  of  the  western  province,  :>nd  powers 
to  proceed  to  hostile  measures,  both  re.S])eeting  East  and  West  Fl.ividn 
were  conditionally  conferred  upon  them:  the  intention  of  our  gov- 
ernment being  to  prevent  at  all  risks  the  acquisition  of  Florida  by 
any  other  foreign  power.     Mistaken  reports  concerning  this  proceed- 
ing became  jirevalent;  and,  in  accordance  with  tin;  idea  that  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  was  to  be  at  once  forcibly  extended 
over  tlie  peninsula,  a  large  number  of  Georgians  and  American 
inhabitants  of  Florida,  congregated  near  St.  I»L;ry's,  and  organized 
jilans  for  an  immediate  hostile  demonstration.     Proceeding  by  wnter 
to  the  Spanish  town  of  Fernandina  on  Amelia  Island,  their  formi- 
dable array  induced  an  immediate  capitulation.     The  revohuiom'sfs 
had  made  appointments  for  a  jmwisional  government,  under  which 
John  II.  Mcintosh  assmncd  the  ofTiee  of  director. 

The  Seminole  Indians  at  first  jirollercd  their  assistance  to  the  rev- 
olutionary party,  but,  from  motives  of  hu-nanity,  the  leaders  of  {'le 
movement,  acting  now  in  concert  with  General  Mathews,  one  of  tlic 
commissioners  deputed  to  We«t  Florida,  declined  availing  themselves 
of  their  services.  The  con.'^ecpience  was,  that  the  Indians  took  up 
arms  in  favour  of  the  Spanish  government,  and  their  depredations, 
and  the  cxjvditions  fitted  out  against  them,  formed  the  most  iinpoit- 
ant  incidents  in  the  snbsecpient  hostilities.  The  question  of  the 
invasion  was  nn.dc  a  matter  of  dipilomatie  adjustment  between  the 
governments  of  Spain,  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States.  The 
overt  acts  of  hostility  were  disavowed  by  the  latter  power,  and,  in 


l''l-OI{I]>A. 


815 


May,  1813,  tl)c  C.w  rcnannng  American  troops  were  withdrawn  from 
1,0  country,  an  amnesty  being  at  the  «ame  time  proclaimed  by  Z 
log,  nuue  governn.ont,  for  all  olFenees  connected  witli  the  atternpted 
rcvolu  .on.     JJunng  the  long  period  of.  desultory  hostilities,  the  se, 
t]c.nonts  and  j>  antat.ons  of  East  Florida  were  extensively  dsstroye, 

I)unr)g  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain  the  western  districts  of 
]'  .rula  were  nuule  the  scene  of  some  important  encounters,  and  many 
>ne.ust.ng  particulars  of  the  Indian  campaigns  of  that  period  are 
rel  tod,  the  natives  having  generally  been  enlisted  against  the  United 
States.     About  the  middle  of  November,  1814,  thetown  and  Zf: 
cations  at  I'en.saeola,  strongly  garrisoned  by  Spanish  aiul  E„.]i.sh 
roops  were  taken  by  the  Americans,  under  General  Jackson,°an. 
the  nuhtary  works  were  destroyed.    The  Seminoles  continued  hostile 
to  the  Ameneans  after  the  conclusion  of  war  with   Engh!  .d    a  J 
proved  formidable  enemies  to  the  border  settlers,  until  the  year  1818 
when  their  territory  in  the  northern  and  western  districts  of  Fiori.l.; 
was  completely  overrun  by  the  forces  under  command  of  General 
Jackson.     In  this  war  the  negroes,  who  for  many  years  had  been 
incroasmg  m  number  by  accessions  of  fugitives  from  the  plantations 
of  the  adjoining  states,  enacted  an  important  part.     They  had  formed 
.:xier.s,ve  settlements  in  the  Indian  territory,  and  in  defence  of  their 
possessions  and  fortifications,  not  unfrequently  fought  with  .lesperafe 
courage  and  determination.     It  appeared  that  the  Indians  had  been 
fiinnshecl  with  supplies  and  munitions  of  war  by  the  Spanish  author- 
n,os  at  Pensacola,  and  in  the  month  of  May,  1818,  General  Jackson 
with  httle  opposition,  again  took  possession  of  the  town  and  fortifi- 
calions      J  he  governor  and  the  Spanish  garrison  were  compelled  to 
htxwii  the  country.  •' 

The  Fk)ridas  were  ceded  to  the  United  States  by  treaty  concluded 
.th  Spain,  11.  the  summer  of  1821,  and  General  Jackson  received 
he  appointment  of  governor  of  the  newly-acquired  country.     In  the 
following  year,  ,t  was  regularly  constitute,!  a  territory,  with  ai.p,.o- 
pnate  rcj>resentative  powers.     The  population  is  so  sparse  that  Flor- 
Hla  would  probably  have  enjoyed  at  least  equal  prosperity,  had  she 
continued  to  remain  under  a  territorial  government.     In  the  opinion 
of  inany  of  the  most  intelligent  inhabitants,  the  .satisfaction  of  enioy- 
^ng  the  independent  position  of  a  sovereign  state  has  hardly  com- 
I'cnsated  for  the  increased  expenditures  rendered  necessary  by  the 
change  of  government.     This  state  was  admitted  i.ito  the  Union  at 
the  session  of  Congress  held  in  the  vo.-ir  iS-i-^. 


[TTie  Revolutions  of  Mexico,  Peru  and  Chili,  and  (he  erection  of  those  Provinces 
into  independent  States,  have  been  already  described  in  the  preceding  articles.] 


COLOMBIA. 


CHAPTER   I. 

LOYALTY  OF  THE  SPANISH  COLONISTS.— ARROGANCE  AND  TYRANNY 

OF  THEIR  RULERS. — CAUSES  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. THE 

^     ESTABLISHMENT  OF  JUNTAS.— MASSACRE  AT  QUITO. - 

THE    JUNTA    OF    CARACCAS    IN    VENEZUELA. 

COMMENCEMENT    OF    HOSTILITIES. — DE- 
CLARATION  OF   INDEPENDENCE. 

The  principle  of  loyalty  and  national  feeling,  so  inveterate  in  the 
Spanish  character,  had  preserved  to  Spain  the  attachment  of  her 
numerous  colonies  through  centuries  of  oppression  and  mi.sgovern- 
ment;  and  nothing  except  the  most  fatuous  arrogance,  cruelty,  and 
obstinacy  on  the  part  of  that  nation  and  its  colonial  agents,  iJuld 
possibly,  in  so  brief  a  space  of  time,  have  alienated  a  people  so 
attached  to  the  land  of  their  origin.  When  the  distracted  and  im- 
poverished condition  of  the  mother-country,  at  the  commencement 
of  its  contests  with  the  French  under  Napoleon,  afforded  the  fairest 
opportunity  of  throwing  off  the  yoke,  so  far  from  availing  themselves 
of  It,  the  Spanish-American  colonies,  with  devoted  loyalty,  loner 
continued  to  furnish  supplies  of  treasure  to  the  state,  and  to  exhibi't 
the  liveliest  interest  in  behalf  of  the  fortunes  of  their  rulers. 

In  default,  however,  of  any  settled  government  in  Spain,  the  colo- 
nist.s,  in  emulation  of  their  countrymen  at  home,  began  to  agitate  the 
formation  of  juntas  or  associations  for  national  defence;  and  these 
attempts  being  suppressed  with  great  severity  by  the  colonial  govern- 


8PANISH-AMEKICAN    REVOLUTIONS.  3^7 

ors,  first  sowed  the  seeds  of  disaffection.    The  viceroys  of  New  Gran- 
ada and  Peru,  cornbimng  their  forees,  revenged,  with'^.avageXooitv 
a  scheme  of  tbs  kmd  matured  at  Quito,  committing  ITJZToi 
three  hundred  of  the  citizens,  and  delivering  up  t'he  town  to  the 
rapmeof  a  terocious  soldiery.    This  and  other  similar  actsof  oppres 
mn,  smgular  to  state,  did  not  suffice  completely  to  alienate  thl 
affecfons  of  the  people  from  the  provincial  governLnt    but  1 L  J 
the  apparently  complete  ascendency  of  France,  the  co  oniste  wer! 
anx>ous  to  adopt  measures  to  secure  their  independence  against  the 
encroachments  of  the  latter.     Actuated  by  this  feeling,  the  ci tz  .! 
of  Caraccas,  m  Venezuela,  in  the  year  1810-proceedlng,  how  ver 
in  the  name  of  Ferd.nand  Vll.-deposed  their  colonial  officerrind 
appomted  a  junta  of  their  own.  ^^y^cm,  ana 

The  imprudent  arrogance  of  the  old  Spaniards  towards  the  pro- 
vincals,  first  diverted  this  current  of  independence  into  a  li  loval 
channel  and  the  vindictive  measures  of  the  nominal  Spanish  'otrn 
ment,  which   on  the  news  of  tlii^  and  other  similar  demonstrations 
hastened  to  declare  war  against  the  refractory  provinces  nrecinitr'i 
hostilUies     The  w,,,e  Spanish  nation,  indee'da;;ear;o^^^^^^^^^^^ 
exceedingly  indignant,  and  although  unable  to  contend  successfullv 
w,  h  the  French  at  home,  managed  to  ship  off  considerab     bod"^ 
of  troops  for  the  purpose  of  suppressing  by  force  the  spirit  of  ince 
pendence  abroad.    Th,s  movement  increased  still  further'the  popu t 
disaffection,  and  Venezuela  first  took  the  lead  in  assertinropea 

811,  the  delegates  from  the  various  provinces  of  that  state  in  i^^ 

ation  of  that   memorable  conv.nti<m    held,  just  thirtyfive    y  Trs 

fore,  m  British  North  America-published  a  declaration  of  fnd 

speed,,  .Howed  by  New  Granadat: Ale'c^  ^^^ t^  iri^^^r 
by  the  f)rovince  of  Buenos  Ayres  ' 

.<>!',  pr..|,»,„g  („,i|,  „ucre*d  oommcrc.ial  polioy)  „  s^mZ^C 
■""'"'"'•'■■ -■  ''^  '-  *■"'».  "-J  ev„r,exe,.ti„„  to  favor  h^   it 


818 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTOEY. 


of  insurrection  in  the  Spanish- American  provinces.     The  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  to  whicL  m  envoy  had  been  dispatched 
hesitated  to  commit  itself  by  openly  countenancing  the  cause  of  the 
liberals,  though  the  sentiments  of  the  people  were  ardently  in  their 
favor;  and  the  British  ministers,  their  overtures  repulsed,  announced 
that  they  should  observe  neutrality,  but  with  a  reservation  in  favour 
of  the  Spanish  crown,  as  represented  by  Ferdinand  VII, 
^    The  original  junta  of  Caraccas,  of  1810,  after  deposing  the  author- 
ities, and  dispatching  several  of  them  to  the  United  States,  had  made 
many  useful  regulations,  of  a  liberal  nature,  but  had  experienced 
some  difficulties,  arising  from  the  unsettled  state  of  the  country.    A 
hostile  collision  with  the  royalist  party  in  Maracaibo,  resulted  in 
considerable  fighting,  without  any  decisive  result,  and  dangerous 
conspiracies,  fomented  by  the  agents  of  the  Spanish  government 
rendered  that  of  the  junta  insecure  in  the  extreme.     But  the  decla- 
ration of  independence,  and  the  regular  appointment  of  a  popular 
government,  as  already  mentioned,  infused  fresh  energy  into  the 
councils  of  the  leaders  of  the  revolution.     An  alarming  scheme  for 
their  overthrow  and  slaughter  was  detected,  and  ten  of  the  conspira- 
tors, after  trial,  were  executed,  and  their  heads,  after  the  barbarous 
custom  of  the  people,  placed  on  poles  at  the  entrance  of  the  city. 

At  the  same  time,  Valencia,  in  the  interior,  had  been  secured  by 
the  royalists,  and  General  Toro,  who  was  dispatched  to  regain  it, 
had  experienced  much  loss  in  taking  possession  of  an  outpost. 
General  Miranda,  already  famed  for  his  repeated  attempts  to  excite 
insurrection  against  the  Spanish  rule  in  Venezuela,  who  was  next 
dispatched  thither,  took  the  town  by  storm,  and  entered  with  his 
forces.  But  the  Spanish  garrison,  fighting  with  courage  in  tlieir 
barracks,  finally  repulsed  the  patriots  with  much  loss;  and  the  roy- 
alists in  the  town,  from  the  towers  of  churches  and  convents,  anrl 
from  the  roofs  and  terraces  of  houses,  discharged  such  destructive 
Vulleys  of  nm.sketry,  that  he  was  compelled  to  evacuate  the  place, 
and  retire  to  a  fortified  position  at  some  distance.  Being  reinforced 
in  the  following  month,  he  again  assaulted  the  town  with  four  thou- 
sand troops,  gained  posession  of  it,  and  dispersed  the  enemy. 

After  the  declaration  of  independence,  public  attention  was  deeply 
engrossed  by  the  formation  of  a  constitution;  and  the  phin  of  a 
feilerative  rt^public,  similar  to  I'lat  of  the  United  States,  was  warmly 
urged  by  the  most  enlightened  friends  of  freedom.  An  instrument, 
resembling  in  form  the  celebrated  constitution  of  that  republic,  but 


SPANISH-AKEKICAN   REVOLUTIONS.  gjg 

quite  inferior  in  principle,  was  Drenarp.l  h^r  +i.. 
23d  of  Pece.,er,  preLued  ^T^^^t"^^^::^::^ 
provided  for  a  senate  and  representatives,  a  judiciary  and  other 
bmnches  of  government,  with  an  executive  of  three  person^-  I.T 
•sad  torture,  the  slave-trade,  and  the  tribute  o  the'  di^.  and 
estabhshed  the  Catholic  religion  as  that  of  the  state.  Tl  to;n  o^ 
•Valencia  was  ceded  to  the  federal  govern.nent  thus  organized  and 
t:tZS:i^''  '''  new  constitution  held  itslirst  ^2t 


CHAPTER   11. 

THE  AFPAIRS  OF  NEW  ORA  N  A  DA.-EX  PULSION  OF  THE  SPAN 
lAKBS   FROM   SANTA   FE  AND   QUITO.-BISSENSIONS   op   TH  E 

i  MEITr"T7E^':r"""   ''  '^"^   ^OrAUSTs'iniEir 

A     QUITr        r.;        '   ''   ^^ATir.-.-FRESH   MASSACRE 
AT  QUITO.  — ALTERNATE   SUCCESSES   OF   THE   PATRIOTS 
AND   ROTALISTS.-THE  EARTHQUAKE  AT  CARACcls 
-ITS  EFFECT.-OVERTHROW   OF    THE   LIBERALS.  " 

Having  thus  briefly  sketched  the  progress  of  events  in  Venezuela 
we  cc>rne  to  those  of  Xew  Granada,  soon  destined  to  be  clo    ly  coa! 
nee  ted  with  its  sister-province.     In  July,  1810,  on  receipt  of  uVwe  - 
come  t,dings  from  Spam,  a  >«^a  had  been  formed  at  Santa  Fede 
B  gotu,  the  capital  of  that  state,  which  had  arrested  the  viceroy  lu 
oher  royal  officers,  and  had  dispatched  them  home  to  Spa  n  "^  Ou 
of  the  twentytwo  provinces  of  which  this  colony  was'c'ompo    d 
nu,e  responded  to  the  call  for  erecting  a  provisional  go  e. 
Otes  espoused  the  royal.st  faction,  and  a  civil  war  ahnost  in.n  e 
,a^>ly  bn.ke  out.     Tacon,  the  royalist  governor  of  Popaya      ^  s 
defeated  by  the  patriots;  and  the  people  of  Quito,  in  A.^ust  soo 
afu^rthe  massacre  already  mentioned,  exasperated  bv  the  Ijn  vZ 
^  ^i.unsh  commissioner,  armed  only  with  clubs  and  knives,  att  icked 

luuard  the  close  of  the  year,  the  ja.la  of  Santa  Ke  entered  into  au 
alliance  for  mutual  protection  with  that  ofCaraccas. 

of  X'iT  T'  f  ""7  ^""^'''''  '^'^'^''^'^'s  -  '^  t'-^  ^-- 

ui  government  to  be  adonted   \vi«     .,m.  ;,  .    i      i  •  t 

V.  auupitu,  was    jon  involved  in  a  disgrucel'ul 


i  I 


320 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


i menial  feud.  The  forces  of  the  congress,  in  attempting  to  take  by 
storm  Santa  Fe,  where  Narino,  the  president  of  Cundinumarca 
was  quartered,  were  repulsed  with  terrible  loss,  and  the  royalists' 
taking  advantage  of  these  dissensions,  inflicted  great  atrocities  on 
the  defenceless  country.  In  Cuenca,  an  army,  raised  and  commanded 
by  the  royalist  bishop,  and  officered  in  great  part  by  priests,  carried 
black  standards,  and  assumed  the  terrible  name  of  "The  Army  of 
Death."  This  force  having  defeated  tlie  troops  of  Quito,  the  Peru- 
vian army,  which  hud  lately  retreated  from  that  city  to  Guayaquil 
on  the  6th  of  November,  1812,  under  the  ferocious  Monies,  reen- 
tered the  city,  and  murdered  one-fifth  of  the  inhabitants  who  re- 
mained. The  prisoners  taken  by  the  royalists  in  their  successes 
were,  with  unsparing  vengeance,  put  to  death. 

lieealled  to  their  senses  by  this  dangerous  movement,  and  the 
friglitful  scenes  of  massacre  by  which  it  was  accompanied,  the  con- 
tending republicans  at  length  saw  the  necessity  of  laying  aside  their 
feuds  and  providing  ibr  the  common  safety.  Their  forces,  eio-lit 
thousand  in  number,  were  accordingly  united,  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Narino,  who  marched  against  Sainano,  the  successor  of 
Monies  in  command,  and  defeated  him  at  El  Atto  del  Palace.  The 
royalists,  ri-inforced,  again  offered  battle;  and  at  Calivia,  in  Popayan 
a  most  obstinate  battle,  contested  with  all  tlie  fury  that  disgraces  civil 
warfare,  resulted  in  their  renewed  discomfiture  and  retreat.  Narino 
gained,  thougli  with  severe  loss,  several  other  victories  over  the 
tyrannical  faction,  but  finally,  inarching  to  Pastas,  in  pursuit  of  tlie 
enemy,  being  deprived,  by  an  artful  stratagem,  of  the  support  of  his 
rear-division,  was  in  turn  defeated  and  made  prisoner.  Cabal,  who 
succeeded  him  in  the  command,  was  compelled  to  retreat  to  Popayan, 
hotly  pursued  by  tlie  victorious  royalists.  Most  of  their  prisoners 
were  murdered  by  the  successful  party.  (June,  1814.)  These  disas- 
ters, occurring  at  the  same  time  that  the  bigoted  Ferdinand  was 
restored  to  the  throne  of  Spain,  threw  an  aspect  of  deep  gloom  over 
the  cause  of  freedom  in  New  Granada. 

Meanwhile,  in  Venezuela,  the  republican  cause,  at  first  so  prosper- 
ous, by  a  strange  accident  of  nature  had  been  plunged  into  ruin  and 
defeat.  On  Holy  Thursday,  the  2()tli  of  March,  1812,  when  the 
troops  and  jieople,  throughout  the  state,  were  crowding  into  chnpel 
and  cathedral  to  participate  in  one  of  the  most  impressive  cere!  in  nits 
of  the  church,  that  terrible  earthquake,  one  of  the  most  fatal  k  >:or(lcd 
in  history,  in  a  single  minute  laid  waste  the  ill-fated  province,  and 


crushed  the  cause  of  liberty,  for  a  time,  to  the  earth     C 

Guira,  Menda.  and  many  other  towns  ^ere  kidTn    i         ''°'''  ^^ 

ru.n.    Nearly  twenty  thousand  souls^r  Id-lot Th  ""^^''^^ 

bigoted  cler^,reS;rht^^^^^^^^^^  -^  the 

ism,  assured  the  people  from  tLil^i  !  /  ^"^  '"'^"^^^  of  despot- 
occurring  on  an'oeeliotTo  o!l'n  C  a  sP'^'r^^^'^^'^"^^^^' 
the  wrath  of  Heaven  a-ain,M>.!'  '^'^Z  ^'g"^!  manifestation  of 
and  his  troop  were  fted  1  '""^''"'^  '^  «^I%overnment.  Korah 
people,  thoroU  .^n^ byllE^^^^^  '''  '''  ^^« 
a  ready  ear  to  the  miserable  assumZn  of  ^^  superstition,  lent 

Public  credit  rapidly  depr"3  and  .1^        ?."*"'^  ^'^^''*«^«- 
peared  so  alarming  tlfat  lecZreT^^^^^  ^'''^'''  ^P" 

Miranda  dictator  for  the  time  withful'  '  '"  ^''^''''  '''^''^ 

commonwealth,  in  similar  erne  Le„eL     '' t     '  ""  ?  '^^  ''^  ^^"^^^ 
took  no  injury."     Thev  then  n!r  !'  '""  *^'"*  ^^«  Republic 

traverse  tht  p'ovinclC "inf  bTelo  ''  T^  ^"  *'^  ^^"'^'  ^  ^« 
.spirit  of  the  people.     With  S]  f'"*  harangues,  the  fallen 

saved  from  tL 'u  ns  Th    r  l„l7'?^  """'  ^™^  ^^^^^  -u«kets 

who,  on  learning  thesL  t stCt  ifglTad'ml  T^  '''.  ^"^'"^" 
teverde,  toward  Caraccas,  overcomiriw  "^'  ""^°'"  ^^«"- 
cient  attempts  of  the  liberal  foZf  ^  '"^'''°'  ^"'^^'  *"«  i^^^- 

were  continually  reinLSom  ho      .?fP'''  *'""•     '^^^'^  ''-ks 
who  thought  to  avert  the  div^  ^'' '"P'^''^'^'^"«P'-°-i"«ials, 

banners  oJancienTo^tsfoT  ^^^  ^"^ 

cult  pass  on  the  roid  tn  Pnm  J        ,        ^^  ^"^  Cabrera,  a  diffi- 

ofpie  .he  advlr  o^h?™^"!'.  t:°  : ,"  i"*^.  >■«  -■"-.  'o 
™s  tic  mountain  bv  a  diS'f„  .  .t  ^''^  ™"""'S  '■^"''"  «? 
.0  Victoria  o„„  a%':t  *  te''f  iSX'"'"',"""'"' 
ntbcked  the  town  with  n,„ch  sli,  1,?,.^  v  "'^"'""  ''™7 
•ere  repulsed  with  loss  Mil  f  ^  i  '°'"=  '"'''''='•>'  ""'.i'lood, 
Cabello  desert™  of  tm„„r   °,        J  '°"''™' '"  "'=  '«  »f  Port<^ 

»«t  iu  the  ruins  o    C.r 'c„°      1  °«™"/<^.<i«P''irrf  even  of  holding 
-^i«S.y  agreed  S.TnX  f^lorrtTs:""  """^-'"^  - 

"""■"""""""  "  •"  •<"»  permitted  .„  „..„  .t.  „,.,^  ^ . 


322 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK   OF   11 1  S  T  O  U  V 


The  Venezuelan  capital  and  the  slender  remains  of  the  liberal  army 
thus  surrendered,  the  Spanish  rule  was  once  more  completely  in  the 
ascendent  in  that  unfortunate  state.  Once  reestablished  in  power 
the  royalist  government  shamelessly  broke  through  every  article  of 
the  capitulation.  Miranda  and  a  thousand  other  patriots  were  thrown 
into  dungeons,  and  numbers  were  condemned  by  the  Spanish  Cortos 
to  perpetual  imprisonment.  Monteverde,  who  now  had  the  complete 
authority  in  his  hands,  continued  to  push  the  work  of  oppression. 
At  length,  the  whole  liberal  party  of  Venezuela  was  proscribed,  and 
Caraccas  and  other  cities  were  converted  into  mere  prisons.  Nearly 
the  whole  republican  population,  it  is  said,  was  under  confinement. 
The  ministry  of  Spain,  unsatisfied  with  these  severities,  complained 
"of  the  indulgence  which  had  been  shown  to  the  insurgents  of 
Caraccas."  The  reaction  caused  by  these  acts  of  perfidy  and  cruelty 
was  not  long  in  approaching.  In  Cumana,  the  young  Marino,  raising 
a  force  of  liberals,  renewed  the  war  by  seizing  the  town  of  Maturin- 
and  two  atttempts.  by  the  Spaniards  to  regain  it,  the  last  under 
Monteverde  himself,  proved  fruitless. 


kj   J}Ji    iZutf    iL      X     Ju    uTii      X    X    X  • 

SIMON  BOLIVAR. — HIS  GENEROUS  AND  PATRIOTIC   SPIRIT.— 

HIS  SUCCESSES   AGAINST   THE    ROYALISTS.  —  ASSISTED    BY 

NEW  GRANADA. — HE  REENTERS    CARACCAS.  —  "WAR    TO 

THE     DEATH." — THE     SERVILE     INSURRECTION     AND 

WAR. — CRUEL   DEED   OF   BOLIVAR.  —  BATTLES  WITH 

THE  ROYALISTS. — RENEWED    PROSTRATION 

OP  THE  REPUBLICAN  CAUSE. 


The  name  most  famous  in  the  South  American  wars  of  independ- 
ence, is  that  of  Simon  Bolivar.  He  was  a  native  of  Caraccas,  of 
wealth  and  of  good  family,  and  during  his  travels  in  Europe,  while 
yet  a  youth,  had  enlarged  his  mind,  enjoyed  the  friendship  of 
eminent  men,  and  attracted  attention  by  his  talents  and  learning. 
From  familiarity  with  the  comparatively  free  institutions  of  England 
and  Switzerland,  he  had  imbibed  an  ardent  love  for  liberty  in  its 
noblest  signification — a  love  which,  on  his  return  to  Venezuela,  just 


SPANISH-AMKIUCAN   REVOLUTIONS.  333 

at  the  commencement  of  the  revolution  hp  A\.r.^       1 1 

more  than  a  thousand  slave/wirh  t  f  K  ^       ^''"'''    P'''"° 

burking  his  princely  fortunlh.  T         v,        "''''"^''^'  ""^  ^^y  «"^- 

of  the  royalists    he  had  h.Z  v    f    '      "''^''  ^*  *^«  *''i""^Ph 

MagJaleua^where,  wift  a  small  force,  m  fte  latter  part  o    1812  ll 
■"f  ""  f  «■>"'  """d  «g»ins.  the  dominant  party 

:  announce  that  th^  3an,a  ^^^.^^  itltytolT  °"T"1  '" 
,  retaliation.  The  war  thcncefLafd  became  lit'r,,,  T "'  '" 
i  <=.llcd-&  :,„.„„  „  „„^fc_,.„„  ,0  ,he  dTaA  "  S'  '  ,  ".:" 
J    superstitious  feara  supplanted  bv  irritT.-        .  lu  P^fple,  their 

ties  of  the  royal  pa"y  now  IwA  "■"  '"'"''"'"«'  ""<»=!■ 

standard  of  BoW^Ve  Lill      .,'"  ?'"'  "'°'"''™  "'o""''  ">» 

I    the  ISth  of  Au^s    ISlsTnf'      '  T"-  """""  *"  "'<"'•«•    On 

I    oppressed  liberXeScto:ar,;l%r:.^sT/:-'''^'°r 
;    extreme,  and  the  dungeons  bei„„    \.J  ""snffeotmg  ,n  the 

'ive,  were  restored  .0?^,     t\  o  Zth""""'  l'"  """""S  ""f 
....  eastern  provinces,  the  rLl  yoSw  al,„T'    ^l"  "'  "°""°  '" 

:t:Se'.::ei:^h;ffr^^^^^ 

-ihie  los.  ne:rrh;rJstrcttr;TiL^r::!f '">'  -"" 
«:rh;r:;'a  ".^rsXrr '-  '^^  -~>  <:  sl'r.r. 

i-Iicedg^tcruettsn^    1  °°'"""'"''  "^  P°"°  C»b«"",  and 

fortress.     %  nTI    ,     ™v!      TT-""'  ''"""""^  ""«'"»'  '"  "'"' 

wie  e.pose"'d  :fI^rl;a?:;i*1„tn:^s^t /"  ''^  ^ 

"J  (jfar  tlie  patriots  from  ilrino- 


824 


T  11  K   1'  K  O  r  L  K '  8    HOOK   U  F   i:  1  S  T  O  V.  V 


Tho  luttor  rctortocl  with  similar  crueltioH,  and  tho  war  of  extermina- 
tion rugcd  more  fiercely  h,  ..  i  .  .  'Rolivar  gained  possession  of  the 
town,  but  wuH  unablo  i/»  disJofl.^c  tno  garrison,  on  account  of  tho 
strength  of  tho  fortn-  's,  and  the  desperation  of  its  defenders.  Tim 
loyalists  of  the  pruvi'ice  t)f  Coro,  the  staunchest  stronghold  of  des- 
potism, rt'inforeed  by  Spanish  troops  from  Porto  Rico,  marched  into 
the  territory  of  Caraccas,  hut,  after  gaining  some  advantages,  were 
routed,  in  three  actions,  by  the  Liberator.  To  avoid  the  evil;!  of  a 
continued  military  rule,  Bolivar  now  iamiiioued  all  th<>  iirincipal 
persons  of  the  state,  with  the  intention  to  resign  his  auU,  rity  int., 
their  hands;  but  it  was  judged  expedient,  in  view  of  the  critical 
position  of  affairs,  that  he  should  hold  the  authority  of  dictator  for 
some  time  longer.     (January,  1814.) 

Tho  royal  i)arty,  burning  with  revenge  at  their  successive  discom- 
fitures, now  took  the  mad  and  desperate  resolution  of  exciting  the 
slaves,  seventy  thousand  in  number,  to  insurrectiim.  This  nefarioua 
project,  for  a  time,  met  with  complete  success.  The  blacks,  attracted 
!)>'  the  hope  of  freedom  and  of  plunder,  enlisted  with  great  zeal 
under  the  incendiary  agents.  Puy,  a  Spaniard,  and  Pulomo,  a 
mulatto  and  outlawetl  assassin,  at  the  head  of  such  a  force,  carried 
desolation  through  Barinas,  Guiana,  and  other  towns;  while  Boves 
and  Rosette,  with  an  army  composed  of  similar  materials,  laid  waste 
a  vast  tract  of  country  in  anotlier  direction,  killing  every  inlmbitant 
who  refused  to  join  them.  Their  force,  amounting  to  eight  thousand, 
consisted  almost  eutirely  of  slaves,  and  with  such  suddenness  ami 
fury  was  the  rising  effected,  that  a  portion  of  the  servile  army  ad- 
vanced within  ten  leagues  of  the  capital. 

The  Spanish  prisoners  at  thaV  place  and  at  La  Guira,  encouraged 
by  these  circumstances,  concerted  a  revolt;  and  Bolivar,  excited  by 
the  atrocities  of  the  royalists,  and  dreading  the  result  of  the  insur- 
rectionary movement,  cau.sed  them,  eight  hundred  in  ininiber,  to  be 
executed  without  mercy.  This  cruel  and  impolitic  dei'i'  was  resented 
by  an  act  of  equal  ferocity  at  Porto  Cabello,  all  tlio  republican  pris- 
oners there,  several  hundred,  suffering  a  similar  fate.  This  massa- 
cre committed,  Bolivar  marched  against  the  enemy,  and  gained  .><ome 
advantages,  though  with  .severe  loss.  Marino  marched  from  Cuniana 
to  lii.s  assistance,  and  the  patriot  forces,  thus  strengthened,  gained 
two  important  victorie.s.  Defeated  in  turn,  they  retreated  to  ValoMcia, 
where,  on  the  2ytl>  of  May,  181 1,  Cigigal,  the  new  royalist  captain- 
general  ol'  V'eiiezuela,  with  forces  largely  strengthened  by  cunceii- 


r 


BPANISn-AMEUiCAN  REVOLUTIONS. 


The  patnot  general,  by  .n  indiscreet  <Hvision  of  his  force  was  in 
turn,  dofcu  od  by  a  large  body  of  cavalry,  under  Boves  and  Marinn 
ex,.cnencod  a  Huuilar  disaster.     With  that  striking  siddennel  cu 

the  enemy,  followlrCr    ^^^'  -^ J^"?  ^^^  "^"^^'^"^^  ^^ 

were  taken,  the  latter   urrenll?^;  ^"•^"'^'^  ^'^^^  ^^'«"«'«' 

oath  taken  bv  ,  ^^^ '"!^'^f  "^*^""g  «''lj  m  cons.deration  of  a  solemn 
oath,  taken  by  the  Spanish  general  in  assurance  of  good  faith  and 
fort;f,ed  by  he  celebration  of  .n.us,s.    But  no  sooner  had  I'eg S  pos 
session  of  the  town  than  he  caused  the  officers  and  nearly  a     the 
soldiers  of  the  garrison  to  be  shot.     The  remains  of  iVT!-  . 
after  twice  repulsing  the  victorious  enemy  aXtuH'^^^^r^^^^^^^^^^^ 

saving hisLuntry,  ri^d  to'^rcirrrrnl  o^^^^^^^^^ 

which  were  gladly  accepted,  to  the  con^^ioTilu:   e'"'''^^"^^^^' 


CHAPTER   I?, 

TIIECOLONIES.-TYRANNrCAL   POLICY  OF   THE   KINO  — 

ADA.  — DISSENSIONS  OHTHK  REPUBLICANS  — 
INJUDICIOUS  CONDUCT   OF   BOLIVAR. 

The  overthrow  of  Nanolpon  in  1«1  i         i  ^u 
bigoted  tvrinni,..,!   r/    •        ,  '       ,'  ^"^  ^^«  restoration  of  the 


320 


THE   I'Kol'MC'S    It  I)  OK    (»K    lllSTOKY. 


continual  outrngc  and  cruelty,  especially  by  the  SjwuiHli  parly,  Imd 
now  quite  extinguished  the  ilamo  of  loyalty  in  the  breasts  of  tlio 
South  American  })atriot9.  It  was,  therefore,  with  the  greutest  dis- 
may  tliat  the  congress  of  New  Granada,  at  tlie  same  time,  heard  of 
the  restoration  of  Ferdinand,  the  renewed  subjection  of  Venezuela, 
and  the  entire  defeat  of  their  own  army,  under  Narino. 

The  intelligence  from  Europe,  (says  Mr.  Niles,*)  "entirely 
changed  the  general  aspect  of  things,  and  in  some  measure  the  char- 
acter of  tlie  revolution.'  The  resistance  in  America  comniciieed 
against  the  authority  of  the  regency  of  Spain,  and  in  most  of  tlio 
provinces  the  authority  of  Ferdinand  was  cxprcH.sly  acknowledged. 
Ferdinand  was  now  on  the  throne,  and  if  resistanee  was  continued, 
it  mu.st  bo  against  the  power  of  the  legitimate  sovereign  of  Spain. 
The  I'estoration  of  the  king,  therefore,  changed  the  relations  between 
the  colonies  and  the  parent-country,  as  well  lus  placed  the  latter  in  a 
condition  to  direct  all  its  strength  against  the  rebellious  Americans, 
being  relieved  from  the  war  at  home,  and  having  no  longer  any 
employment  for  her  armies  in  the  peninsula.  At  an  earlier  period 
of  the  contest,  the  restoration  of  Ferdinand  would  have  greatly 
damped,  if  not  eflectually  checked,  the  spirit  of  the  revolution;  but 
after  the  struggle  had  continued  nearly  five  years,  and  the  minds  of 
the  Americans  become  exasperated  by  the  cruelties  and  massacres 
of  the  Spanish  colonial  rulers,  it  was  calculated  to  have  but  compar- 
atively little  influence.  Had  Ferdinand,  however,  pursued  a  con- 
ciliatory line  of  conduct  towards  America;  had  lie  condemned  tho 
rashness  of  the  colonial  chiefs,  who  had  driven  the  people  into 
resistance;  reformed  the  abuses  and  removed  the  oppressi(Mi  of 
which  the  colonies  justly  comi)lained,  probably  ho  might  have  so  far 
revived  the  sentiments  of  loyalty  as  to  have  checked,  if  not  extin- 
guished, the  flame  of  the  revolution.  But  instead  of  this  course,  the 
first  official  intelligence  the  Americans  had  of  his  being  reinstated 
on  the  throne,  was  a  decree,  treating  them  as  rebels,  and  command- 
ing them  to  lay  down  their  arms."  Another  decree  (June,  1814,) 
directed  the  equipment  of  a  formidable  armament,  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  insurrection. 

Amid  all  these  disheartening  circumstances,  the  congress  of  New 
Granada,  true  to  their  trust,  presented  a  bold  front  to  their  men- 
acing destiny.  In  a  proclamation,  detailing  with  the  most  naked 
distinctness,  the  losses  and  misfortunes  of  the  republican   .ause  in 

*  History  of  South  Auieriea. 


Sl'ANlSII-AMKUie.VN   li  E  Vu  L  U  T  I  (•  N  S.  307 

the  two  statcH,  and  presenting  the  .ILsustrous  pn.speet  of  sul.iec-tioa 
■n  .ts   ullct  hght,  thoy  nobly  conclude,  "  LlHeloL  shall  be  tl'dcx  a  a 
^n  of  our  .ndepondence.  if  we  have  ,u,t  resolution  to  h Ipor     t 
VV  0  possesH  withm  oursel ves  the  mean,  of  attaining  this  great  IL' 
and  no  power  whatever  will  be  strong  enough  to' onqu'":  ;    ^o 
avud  ourselves  of  our  own  strength ;  our  exertions  must  unque    ic" 
ably  be  great  and  our  sacrifices  for  the  common  cause  ur.boun 
But  such  efforts  are  worthy  of  mou  raised  to  the  dignity  of  a  ft^eo 
people,  and  are  absolutely  necessary,  since  wo  have  nothing  to  h  p! 
and  „>uch  to  fear  fron.  the  Kuropear.  nations.     Notwithstandil  t L 
cessions  at  Bay  on  ne,  an.l  the  torrents  of  blood  which  the  F  !n  h 
have  shed  by  the  war  in  the  Peninsula.  Ferdinand  Uas  been  r Lto  h1 
to  .pan;  and  the  country,  now  freed  from  the  French,  will  lu  ve 

sutlue  L!""'  '"'  ''"  ^''  '^  '''''  '  ''^--^^^'^  --V  again  :: 
"Ye  people  of  New  Granadal   contemplate  your  fate,  and  that 
ofyourposteruy;  you  may  easily  judge  of  it;  and  let  yc^ur  reso 
t.on  be  formed  accordingly  and   nobly.     Again,  we  repeat, Toul 
clc«t  ny  depends  upon  your  own  exertions."     (September  1st  1814 

btnngent  measures,  dictated  by  necessity,   were  taken  for  the 

connnon  safety.    The  chiefs  of  the  province  of  bundinaalvn. 

refused  to  join  the  confederacy,  Bolivar,  in  December,  1814    w°s 

.patched  to  us  capital,  Santa  Fe  de  Bogota,  to  force  a  compllare 

He  took  the  suburbs  by  storm,  and  the  president,  Alvarez,  mak  nt 

cdcracy.  Ihe  federal  government,  thus  strengthened,  appointed  a 
tr-ple  executive,  and  proceeded  to  pass  many"  ibcral  and  Iht  ry 
acts.  Monopolies  and  tribute  of  the  Indians  were  abolisl  d  foT 
eigners  were  invited  to  the  country,  and  the  liberty  of  the  p res  '  was 
assured.  Among  the  clergy,  many  of  the  more  intelli|en  not 
.nbraccd  the  popular  cause;  and  the  friars  of  St.  Dominic  ii  TZ 
t.ular>owed  their  patriotism  by  presenting  to  the  nationa Ur  asu^ 
the  uealth  which  they  had  long  hoarded  in  their  sanctuary  ^ 

Caba  and  Urdeneta,  with  reinforcements,  were  employed  in  dif 
fe  ent  a-ections,  against  the  enemy;  and  Bolivar,  with  the  ap  oh  t 
me  t  of  captain-general  of  New  Granada  and  Venezuela,  in  com  n"nd 
of  three  thousand  men,  raised  by  great  exertions,  marched  Jw 

t^::ST^  ^T  '"'T'"- ''''  '''^'  ^^'"'"-^^'^  with  sSS  ^ 

commander  of  Carthagena,  h,s  i,ersonal  enemy,  delayed  his  march 


M 


328 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


to  besiege  that  city  and  bring  the  refractory  officer  to  terms.  This 
civil  contest,  entirely  breaking  up  the  original  enterprise,  and  per- 
mitting the  royalists  to  gain  great  advantages,  was  carried  on  till 
news  arrived  that  the  great  Spanish  expedition,  prepared  at  Cadiz 
to  crush  the  republican  cause,  had  arrived  off  Venezuela.  Recalled 
to  his  judgment  by  this  alarming  intelligence,  Bolivar  ceased  the 
unnatural  contest,  and,  leaving  the  remains  of  his  army  for  the 
defence  of  the  city  he  had  besieged,  betook  himself  to  Jamaica  to  fit 
out  an  expedition  for  its  relief. 


CHAPTEB   ?, 

ARRIVAL   OF   THE   SPANISH    ARMY,    UNDER    MORILLO. — TERRIBLE 
BLOCKADE   OF   CARTHAOENA.  —  RENEWED   EXERTIONS  OP  THE 
PATRIOTS.  —  ALTERNATE    SUCCESSES. — MORILLO   CONQUERS 
NEW   GRANADA. — SEVERITIES   EXERCISED    ON    THE   VAN- 
QUISHED.—  MARCHES   INTO    VENEZUELA. — SUCCESSFUL 
DEFENCE    OF    MARGARITA    BY    THE    PATRIOTS. 

The  armament  of  Span,  the  most  formidable  which  that  nation 
had  over  dispatched  to  the  shores  of  the  New  World,  consisted  of 
to)i  thousand  of  her  best  troops,  conveyed  in  fifty  traii.sports.  The 
f(jel)le  resources  of  the  country,  e.\liaustcd  by  war  with  the  French 
had  been  almost  entirely  expci'dod  in  preparing  it.  Morillo,  the 
conunander,  first  took  tliv;  i-land  (jf  Margarita,  where  tuaiiy  of  the 
patriots  of  Vonozucla,  u;  -lor  H-.-rmuda."*,  had  taken  refuge;  and 
thence  proceeiod  in  Uarac-'as,  where,  and  at  other  cities  on  the 
coast,  he  laovl'd  two  :;'.ousani.i.  men.  In  August,  ISlo,  he  laiil  siege 
to  Cartliagcni;.  Tliat  city,  stvongly  fortified,  and  bravely  defended, 
stood  a  siege  of  four  '-notith.s  inohiding  two  bombardments;  but 
being  strictly  invest".],  bofa  l>y  laud  atid  water,  the  garri.son  suf- 
fered terribly  from  far.iine.  On  the  fith  of  December,  the  deaths 
amounting  to  a  hundred  a  ilay,  they  evacuated  the  city,  two  thou- 
sand in  numl)er,  in  eleven  .sliip.s,  making  good  their  retreat,  and 
"epulsing  the  Spanish  arinament,  by  which  they  were  attacked. 
They  mostly  proceeded  to  Aux  Caycs.  "Tlie  horrible  appearance 
of  the  city,"  says  Montalvo,  the  captain-genera!,  "is  scarcely  to  be 


SPANISII-AMKKICA.N    l:  K  V  O  L  U  TI  O  NS.  329 

described;  the  streets,  and  even  the  houses,  were  heaped  up  with 
dead  bodies,  or  with  those  who  were  expiring;  the  atmosphere  was 
in  a  pestilential  state,  which  nearly  stopped  respiration;  groans  and 
lamentations  assailed  our  ears."  Castillo  and  other  distinguished 
patriots  were  executed.  ° 

Before  Bolivar  could  mature  his  scheme  for  the  relief  of  Cartha- 
goiia,  that  city  had  fallen;  and  he  once  more  turned  his  attention 
to  Venezuela.  Many  rjuerllla  parties,  as  in  the  peninsula  war,  were 
now  formed,  and  inflicted  much  annoyance  on  the  enemy.  In  com- 
pany with  a  wealthy  and  patriotic  Curacoan,  named  Brion,  he  fitted 
out  an  expedition  of  a  thousand  troops  from  Aux  Cayes,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Margarita,  where  the  standard  of  revolt  had  been  success- 
fully raised.  On  the  way  he  took  two  Spanish  men-of-war,  and 
early  in  May,  1816,  landing  on  the  island,  gained  complete  possession 
of  It.  He  next  took  Carupano,  on  the  main-land,  and  proceeding  to 
other  ports,  issued  a  proclamation,  declaring  that  "justice  and  policy 
demand  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves,  and  henceforth  there  shall 
be  but  one  class  of  people  in  Venezuela— all  shall  be  citizens."  At 
these  unexpected  successes  of  the  patriots,  the  rage  of  the  royalists 
was  unbounded,  and  they  inflicted  the  greatest  cruelties  on  all 
within  their  power. 

Bolivar  now  unfortunately  divided  his  little  army,  placing  a  part 
under  the  command  of  McGregor,  a  Scotchman,  and  being  attacked 
by  the  Spanish  troops,  under  Morales,  was  defeated,  with  a  loss  of 
two  hundred  men,  and  of  nearly  all  his  best  officers.     The  victor 
then  pursued  McGregor,  with  such  confidence  of  success,  that  he 
dispatched  to  Caraccas,  in  advance,  official  accounts  of  the  defeat 
and  death  of  that  officer,  and  the  capture  of  his  entire  force;  never- 
theless, coming  up  with  him  at  last,  was  himself  completely  beaten 
m  the  two  actions  of  Alacran  and  Juncal,  and  the  republican  oflicer 
tc^v  possession  of  Barcelona.     Bolivar,  after  his  defeat,  proceeded 
0  ih.rgarita,  where  he  summoned  a  congress,  and  then  repairin.r  to 
iiarcelona,  formed  a  provisional  government,  and  repulsed  the  attacks 
of  Morales  and  Kcal  with  great  loss.     Most  of  Guiana  had  also  now 
been  gained  by  the  patriots,  under  Piar. 

Morillo,  after  taking  Carthagena,  had  invaded  New  Granada  with 
an  overwhelming  force,  in  three  several  directions.     The  con-ress 
of  that  state  had  bravely  opposed  what  resistance  they  could,  eTther 
entering  the  army  or  traversing  the  provinces  to  excite  the  people 
A  muuber  of  batth-s  ..„,d  skinnishos  wore  fought,  in  most  of  which 


380 


Til  K    I' Ko  1' I,  K'S    lioolv   OK    IIISTOUY. 


tlio  royiilisls  luul  llio  iidviuiliigd;  iiiul  liiiiilly,  in  the  Haiif^uinuiy  con. 
flictof  Ciu'liiru,  tlio  llowor  of  tlio  (iruiuultiii  army  ])erislit)(l,  uiid  tlio 
survivora  find  to  Loh  LIumom.  In  .luno,  181(5,  Morillo  oiitorod  iSiinta 
Vo  do  Hogotu,  tun],  witli  tlic  ciiHtomiiry  jiolity  of  tlio  coloiiijil  agciiita 
lit  oiu'o  coinincnooil  tlio  worlc  of  prosiM-iptioii  and  oxiscution.  Moro 
tlmn  six  Imtidrcd  juuvsons,  ])i'OMiin(!iit  in  the  iilliiirH  of  the  govorn- 
nient  or  tho  iiriny,  were  shot,  hiuiged,  or  exiltMl,  and  the  prisons 
wore  fiUed  with  otliers,  awaiting  tlieir  fate.  Yet,  in  his  dispatclies 
that  coinniaMvler  vaunts  of  having  "displayed  that  elenieney,  ao 
much  reeoniniended  by  tho  king,  which  was  unbonnded." 

Many  of  the  victims  wore  men  of  peace,  eminent  for  their  science 
and  learning,  but  had  incurred  the  hatred  of  the  .Spanish  authorities 
by  their  elocpient  denunciations  of  tyranny.  "  In  Santa  Fe,"  writes 
tho  victor,  "there  are  hut  few  blacks  and  mulattoes.  Fn  Venezuela 
a  eoiisidi-rable  jiart  of  the  white  jiopulation  has  perished  in  tho  revo- 
lution. 'Pho  itdml»itants  of  Santa  Kc  are  timid,  those  of  Venezuela 
bold  and  sanguinary.  In  Santa  Ke  niueh  has  been  published  diiriii" 
the  revolution,  and  tlie  learned  have  ruled  all  with  their  pens;  but 
in  Caraee.'is  they  displayed  earli(>r  the  naked  sword.  *  *  *  wi 
is  etVeeted  by  tln^  rebels  from  Venezuela.  They  are  like  ferocioius 
beasts  wIkmi  they  fight  in  their  own  country;  and  if  they  get  ablo 
commander.-^,  it  will  require  many  years  to  subdue  them,  and  even 
then  it  will  be  done  at  tho  expense  of  much  blood  and  considcrablo 
sums  of  money." 

In  November,  18 1(5,  to  suppress  the  Venezuelans,  Morillo,  witli 
two  thou.'^and  men,  took  up  his  march  for  (^araecas.  lie  was  attacked 
on  the  way  by  tlu>  patriots,  under  I'aez,  with  considerable  sueceas; 
but  in  the  absence  of  Bolivar,  the  town  of  Uarceiona,  the  only  post 
of  importance  held  by  the  republicans,  on  the  7th  of  April,  1817, 
was  taken  by  the  nn'alists.  In  the  following  month,  thev  were 
reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  sixteen  hundre<l  iniMi  from  Spain.  This 
loss  was  in  some  degree  comjiensatcd  'oy  the  fall  of  Angostura,  the 
capital  of  Guiana,  which  surrendered  to  the  united  arms  of  Bolivar 
and  Piar,  and  the  seizure  of  the  whole  province  by  the  patriot  forces. 
This  acquisition  was  of  the  highest  importance  to  tho  cause  of  tho 
republicans,  as  it  enabled  them  to  cut  olVthe  supplies  of  the  enemy, 
to  hold  free  communication  witli  their  stronghold  of  Margarita,  and 
to  receive  S'.ipjtlics  from  the  West  Indies.  T(>  subdue  that  refractory 
island,  the  scene  of  their  earliest  repulses,  tho  Sjianiards,  in  June, 
disp.'itchcd  an  e\p(>dition  of  seven   vessels;   and   in   the  following 


KJ-ANlKir-AMKUJCAN    It  K  V  OLUTIO  NS.  gSl 

n.o„tl.  (Inly  Mtl,  1817)  Morill.  in  perso,,,  with  three  thousand  flvo 
nndrod   roop.s  and  a.hhtK,n,d  n.vul  /brccs.  prococclo.l  there  in  per  on 
Ho  too.  by  .storn,,  nitor  u  dcsponUe  rosiHtancc,  the  fortress  oVlZ' 
l.atar  tl,e  strongest  on  the  ishuul.  and  resolved  utterly  to  e:^..;  ^ 
ale  a  1  who  resisted.     The  entire  j.opulation  of  the  island  was  t 

t<.  the  lust.  With  such  gallantry  an.l  ohstinm^y  did  they  contest  the 
ca.npa,gn  t  at,  after  fighting  live  battles,  and  inflicting  on 
atrocious  butcheries  on  all  who  fell  into  his  hands,  the  savage  Moril lo 
avn,,  los  a  thousand  of  his  troops,  was  compelled  to°e]inqu  h 
the  aucn.pt  at  subjecting  them.  A  n.ore  signal  instance  of  patriot!  m 
aiK  detonmnatK,n  has  seldom  been  witnessed  on  a  theatre  so  s  aT 
as. .hU^eish^id,  the  earnest  of  the  provinces  .nsucecs^^^^ 

I;'  ')c't''l-r,  1817,  a  lamentable  incident  occurred  in  the  treason 
ofOciiora    Piar,  who  had  fought  with  bravery  and  good  succ  rfb^ 
t  0  n,.ub  can  cause,  and  who  suflen3d  execuLn  aAhe  ,^y    . 
0    Ins  amb,  lous  schemes.     On  the  11th  of  the  follow Lg  m^t 
tl  0  \  eiiczuu  an  congress  o.ice  mor3  assembled  at  Angostnr-r      i 
rcelec tec  J3ohvar  as  presi.lent  of  the  republic.     The  prot  e  ■   ll ' 
patriots  had  b.ghter.ed  exceedingly-Guiana,  G^inarerPanpl 

innas  and  portions  of  other  provinces  havhi  been  r  eoC^^  b 
hciu,  but  Bohvar,  who,  ,n  conjunction  with  the  bravfc  JV.  rnad o 

vigorous  campaign  against  the  enemy,  was  unable,  as  yet  to  exp 
Loin  frorn  Venezuela,  and,  after  considerable  fight  n./ ret un.ed'^ 


332  THE  PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF   HISTOEY. 


CEAPTEH   ?I. 

ATTITUDE  OF  FOREIGN   NATIONS.  —  BRITISH  VOLUNTEERS. 

CAMPAIGN    OF    B  0  I,  I  V  A  R    IN     NEW    GRANADA. BRILLIANT 

SUCCESSES. DEFEAT    AND    FLIGHT    OF   THE    ROYALISTS. 

GRATITUDE  OF  THE  PEOPLE. UNION  OF  THE  STATES 

OF  NEW  GRANADA   AND  VENEZUELA  UNDER  THE  TITLE 

OF  COLOMBIA. REVERSES  AND  SUCCESSES 

OF  TEE  PATRIOTS. 

During  this  terrible  internecine  warfare,  which  had  now  lasted 
for  nearly  nine  yeans,  the  patriots  of  Venezuela  and  New  Granada 
had  sustained  themselves,  unaided,  against  the  powerful  royalist  fac- 
tions and  the  forces  dispatched  from  Spain  to  effect  their  resubiusja- 
tion.  Unsuccessful  application  for  assistance  had  been  made  to  the 
British  government,  and  several  missions,  with  no  better  fortune 
had  been  dispatched  to  the  United  States  of  America— that  country 
still  feeble  and  in  its  infancy,  not  daring,  as  yet,  to  hazard  its  newly- 
acquired  liberties  by  any  unnecessary  step,  involving  a  war  with  the 
European  powers.  Overtures  for  the  same  purpose  were  finally 
made  to  Napoleon  himself,  the  very  enemy  to  resist  whom  the  ini- 
tiatory steps  of  revolution  had  been  taken;  but  when  arrangements 
were  actually  making  for  the  effective  aid  of  the  republicans,  the 
battle  of  Leipsic,  crippling  the  power  of  the  emperor  at  home,  left  him 
without  the  means  of  aiding  tlie  ciiuse  of  freedom  in  South  America. 

Some  tardy  movements  in  favour  of  acknowledging  the  independ- 
ence of  the  suffering  provinces  at  length  took  place  in  the  United 
States,  and  some  volunteers,  with  supplies  of  munitions,  were  afforded 
by  private  sympathy.  To  the  honour  of  the  Briti.sh  nation,  consid- 
erable numbers  of  its  people  embarked  in  the  same  genorous  cause. 
In  1818  and  1819,  several  hundred  volunteers,  with  large  supplies 
of  arms  and  munitions,  and  commanded  by  experienced  officers 
arrived  at  Margaritn,  and  were  .soon  transpo  ted  ;o  the  main-land. 

Bolivar  now  resolved  on  carrying  the  war  into  New  Granada, 
where  the  royalists,  for  some  time,  l;,id  been  completely  in  the 
ascendant.  Tlie  particulars  of  this  remarkable  campaign,  one  of  the 
most  brilliant,  considering  the  small  forces  engaged,  on  record,  rnii.st 
be   briefly  detailed.     Taking  with   him   a   force  of  picked  troops, 


SPANI8H-AMEKICAN  KEVOLUTIONS.  333 

including  the  British  auxiharies,  the  president,  in  the  month  of 
April,  commenced  a  march  obstructed  by  extraordinary  difficulties 
"The  rainy  season,"  he  reports,  "had  commenced,  and  the  plains 
presented  only  vast  sheets  of  inundation;  the  frozen  summits  of  the 
Andes  lay  ui  our  route;  the  sudden  mutations  of  adverse  climates 
were  to  be  encountered;  a  well-disciplined  army,  three  times  our 
own  number  were  in  front  of  us,  and  occupying  all  the  military 
posuions  of  those  regions."     At  Casanare,  where  he  was  joined  by 
Saiitander,  he  issued  an  eloquent  proclamation  to  the  people  of  Neu- 
Granada.     In  a  terrible  march,  lasting  an  entire  month,  through  tint 
provmee,  the  patriots  underwent  the  greatest  hardships  and  sufferings. 
J  hey  finally  came  upon  the  enemy  at  La  Guya,  on  the  27th  of  June, 
619,  and  dislodged  them  from  a  strong  position,  which  might  have 
been  made  good,  even  against  an  overwhelming  force.     A  succession 
of  bnlhant  victories  ensued.     On  the  1st  of  July,  in  the  Valley  of 
Saga.noso,  in  Tunja,  Bolivar  encountered  the  royalist  army,  under 
Bureyro,  and  after  an  obstinate  conflict,  protracted  till  late  in  the 
night,  compelled  it,  in  great  disorder,  to  retreat.     On  the  2oth  of  the 
same  month,  at  Pantano  de  Bargas,  after  a  battle  of  five  hours,  con- 
tested  with  great  desperation,  the  royal  forces  were  again  defeated, 
and  fled  in  confusion,  leaving  their  artillery,  baggage,  and  treasure^ 
on  the  field.     Pursued  by  tlie  army  of  liberation,  they  were  over- 
taken, on  the  7th  of  August,  at  the  bridge  of  Bovaca,  and  again 
sufiered  a  defeat  so  overwhelming  as  almost  to  decide  the  fate  of  the 
war      Ihe.r  general,  with  a  great  number  of  officers  and  sixteen 
hundred  men  (more  than  half  their  number),  were  made  prisoners- 
a  great  quantity  of  munitions  of  war  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  patri- 
oLs;  and  the  rehcs  of  the  royalist  troops,  pursued  by  Santander  fled 
h'oni  the  scene  of  action. 

On  receipt  of  this  startling  intelligence,  the  viceroy,  Samana,  pre- 
cpuulely  quitted  Santa  Fe,  leaving  all  his  military  stores  and  a  trea- 
sure of  so„,e  millions  of  dollars.  The  whole  fell  into  the  hands  of 
tlie  patriot  army,  who  were  received  at  the  capital  of  New  Granada 
with  the  utmost  exultation;  and  Bolivar,  his  title  of  Lberator  con- 
'"•mod  by  these  extraordinary  exploits  and  tl  !:  .plendid  result,  was 
-•coined  by  the  people  with  a  l-ansport  .  ,,;  and  enthusiasm. 
1^,1''",  nuhrd,  well  earned  their  gratitude  anu  admiration,  havin.r 
•"  i-  brief  space  of  three  niont.s,  in  the  face  of  innumerable  natural 
'l-l--l.'>-,  defeated  and  .lispcrsed  an  army  three  times  greater  ,  mi 
'"■^  "« li,  and  Iiherated,  in  rapid  succession,  the  mo.st  oppressed  prov- 


384: 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


inces  of  New  Granada.     Improving  with  the  greatest  diligence  these 
advantages,  by  the  20th  of  September,  he  had  two  armies  on  foot  for 
the  hberation  of  the  provinces  of  the  north  and  south,  still  in  posses 
sion  of  the  enemy ;  and  having  established  a  provisional  government 
he  posted  with  Avonderful  rapidity  to  Angostura,  where  the  Venezu' 
elan  congress  was  in  session.     (December,  1819.) 

In  an  address  to  that  body,  after  commemorating  the  achievements 
of  his  little  army,  he  announced  the  desire  of  New  Granada  for  a 
political  union  of  the  two  states,  and  his  own  conviction  of  the 
necessity  of  the  measure  in  ensuring  the  Independence  of  South 
America.     So  great  was  the  weight  of  his  personal  influence,  and  so 
apparent  were  the  advantages  likely  to  result  from  the  arrangement 
that  on  the  17th  of  the  month  a  law  was  passed,  providing  °for  the 
union  of  the  two  provinces,  under  the  title  of  the  "Eepublic  of  Co- 
lombia," consolidating  the  national  debts,  ordaining  the  erection  of 
a  capital,  to  bear  the  name  of  their  deliverer,  and  summoninrr  a 
general  congress,  to  meet  in  January,  1821,  with  power  to  form  a 
constitution  for  the  new  commonwealth.     This   resolution   bein<r 
communicated  to  the  republican  authorities  of  New  Granada   the 
step  was  unanimously  approved,  and  in  the  midst  of  universal  exult- 
ation, the  new  commonwealth  was  solemnly  proclaimed  at  Santa  Fe 
de  Bogota.     Ten  liberated  provinces  joyfully  acceded  to  the  Union 
Tins  important  measure   accomplished,  the  president,  with  forces 
recruited  to  the  number  often  or  twelve  thousand  men,  again  devoted 
his  energies  to  the  war. 

On  the  coast,  considerable  disasters  had  attended  the  patriot  arms 
.AlcGregor,  in  April,  1819,  after  having  captured  Porto  Bello    and 
held  It  for  three  weeks,  was  overcome  by  a  royalist  force,  and  lost 
his  entire  command  of  one  thousand  men,  except  a  few  whoe^eiped 
with  him  by  swimming  to  their  vessels.     Another  small  detachment     ' 
which  he  afterwards  left  at  Rio  de  la  Ilacha,  being  also  overpowered'     I 
blew  up  the  fort,  to  their  own  destruction,  rather  than  fall  into  the     I 
hands  of  tlie  Spaniards.  '■ 

Of  the  British  auxiliaries,  about  five  hundred  in  number  en-  i 
gaged  in  Bolivar's  last  campaign,  only  a  quarter  had  survived-  yet  ' 
fresh  reinforcements  continued  to  arrive  from  the  same  quarier  ' 
General  D'Evreux,  a  native  of  Ireland,  (naturalized  a  citizen  of  the 
I  nit.'d  States,)  raised  a  f.rrc  of  one  thousand  of  his  countrvnicn  | 
M-.th  whom  he  arrived  at  Colombia  in  season  for  the  campai'.ni  of 
lN-0.     Bohvar,  after  repairing  to  the  ca^-ital  of  Now  Granada,  in 


SPANISH-AMERICAN  KEV0LUTI0N8. 


March  of  that  year,  encouraging  the  hopes  of  the  republicans,  and 
ceme.itnig  the  union  by  his  eloquence,  repairo.l  to  his  army  on  the 
Apure  Eio  de  la  Hacha  was  presently  taken,  and  the  southern 
army  of  Isew  Granada,  with  similar  success,  assailed  the  enemy  and 
expelled  them  from  the  province  of  Popayan.  . 


CHAPTSH?IL     . 

REVOLUTION   IH  SPAIN.— OVERTURES  OF   THE   SPANISH  LEOERS 
-RESOLUTION   OF   THE   PATRIOTS.— THE  ARMISTICE.- THE  ' 
WAR    RENEWED.  — HUMANE    POLICY    OF   BOLIVAR —SIGNAL 
VICTORIES   OF    THE    REPUB  LIC  A  NS.— THE    SPANIARDS 
COMPLETELY    EXPELLED    FROM    COLOMBIA  —INDE- 
PENDENCE OF   THAT  STATE   ACKNOWLEDGED. 

Meanwhile,  the  revolution  in  Spain,  reestablishing  the  Corte-^ 
had  taken  place,  and  Morillo,  in  accordance  with  instructions  from 
the  new  government,  proposed  a  suspension  of  hostilities  and  the 
open.ng  of  negotiations.     The  Colombian  congress,  which  convened 
in  May,  declared,  in  reply,  that  they  would  with  pleasure  terminate 
hostilities,  but  on  no  other  condition  than  that  of  national  independ- 
ence.    Bohvar,  in  answer  to  the  official  announcement  of  Morillo 
replied  in  the  same  strain.     "The  republic  of  Colombia  "  he  say.' 
"most  sincerely  congratulates  itself  on-  seeing  the  day  in  which  lib- 
ertv  extends  her  beneficent  influence  over  unhappy  Spain  and  to 
sec  her  ancient  metropolis  treading  in  the  steps  of  Colombia  -md 
fn  the  path  of  reason.     The  people  of  Colombia,  more  tliau  tea 
years  ago,  resolved  to  consecrate  the  last  of  its  members  to  the  only 
cause  worthy  of  the  sacrifice  of  peace-that  is,  the  cause  of  an  on- 
pressed  country;  and  confiding  in  the  sacredncss  of  their  cause  in 
the  most  solemn  manner,  on  the  20th  of  November,  181 S   re.solved 
to  combat  perpetually  against  all  exterior  domination,  and'not  to  be 
recon^cilcd  to  peace  but  upon  the  recognition  of  absolute  independ- 
ence.     He  enclosed  the  law  referred  to,  and  avowed  his  readiness 
to  receive  the  royalist  commissioners. 

The  arms  of  the  republicans,  meanwhile,  though  no  verv  decisive 
batt  e  took  place,  were  continually  gaining  ground,  and  the  hope. 
01  t.ie  Spaniards  to  regain  ascendency  were  proportionablv  dimin- 


336 


THE  PEOl'LE'S   BOOK   O  ¥   IIISTOIiY 


ishing.     Besides  these  advantages,  Guayaquil,  witli  a  iiuinber  of  tlic 
adjacent  provinces,  succeeded  in  throwing  ofT  the   Spanish  yoke. 
Maracaibo  followed  the  example;  and  all  the  northern  part  of  New 
Gr.inada,  except  the  city  of  Garth agen a,  and  the  isthmus  of  Panama 
by  the  beginning  of  1821,  wasin  the  hands  of  the  patriots.     Despite 
the  triumphant  success  in  arms  which  these  events  portended  Boli- 
var, willing  to  spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  in  November,  1820  had 
consented  to  an  armistice,  while  negotiations  should  be  attempted. 
It  was  resolved,  however,  that  no  terms,  save  those  of  absolute  inde- 
pendence, should  be  accepted  from  Spain,  and  the  congress,  with 
cogent  argument,  in  their  manifesto,  assign  reasons  for  this  deter- 
mination.     "On   commencing  hostilities,"  affirms  that   document 
"Colombia  neither  had  great  armies  nor  the  materials  to  form  them' 
to-day  she  has  skillful  generals,  expert  officers,   veteran   soldiers 
inured  to  war,  and  plenty  of  arms  and  ammunition. 

"Many  citizens  were  then  afraid  of  being  soldiers;  now  they  are 
all  in  arms,  and  delight  in  being  so.  Colombians  are  no  hwer 
what  they  were;  and  the  population  of  Colombia  are  a  new  people 
regenerated  by  a  ten  years'  contest,  in  which  have  disappeared  those 
physical  and  moral  disqualifications  which  rendered  her  independence 
doubtful,  and  arc  become  worthy  and  fit  to  govern  themselves,  instead 
of  obeying  another's  will,  or  any  sovereignty  but  their  own." 

Morillo,  after  the  ratification  of  the  armistice,  returned  to  Spain 
where  the  cruelties  which  he  had  exercised  toward  the  patriots  were 
rewai'ded  with  the  title  of  Count  of  Carthagena.  Negotiation  had 
proved  unsuccessful,  and  in  the  month  of  April,  1821,  both  parties 
the  Spanish  under  Morales  and  La  Torre,  prepared  for  hostilities! 
Tlie  Colombian  government  had  sentconimi'sioners  to  Spain,  where 
in  May,  1821,  a  project  for  bestowing  a  representative  government 
on  tiie  refractory  colonies  was  agitated  in  the  Cortes,  but  was  fiiuilly 
rejected  on  account  of  the  determined  objections  of  Ferdinand.  On 
the  17th  of  April,  1821,  Bolivar  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  army, 
affirming  that  Spain,  thou,^h  herself  in  possession  of  a  representative 
government,  was  still  inclined  to  establish  tyranny  over  the  prov- 
inces. He  appointed  hostilities  to  recommence  at  the  end  of  the 
month,  commanding,  however,  that  the  war  should  be  conducted 
according  to  the  law  of  nations,  on  jienalty  of  capit!>l  punishment 
against  all  transgressors;  "if  the  enemy," 'he  adds,  "should  disre- 
gard these  regulations,  we  shall  not  imitate  them;  the  glory  of 
Colombia  shall  not  be  stained  with  blood  dislionourably  shed," 


SI'A»,8„.A„KK,C*N  KBV0LCT.0N8.  337 

:    command i  but  yield    ^  ^  "    '""'°f ■■"'''°  «"">  «'=  chief  ™ili,„j, 
I    oonsontcd  for  a  to      cTcoVn  „  .P<^-'-»»ions  of  tl,at  body, 

;    dernrt^el  in  bi»  IglJ  C™       ™"'"  ""  ""'"'P"™  "'  l"'* 

,     Core.     Another  Son    u'r?   "t'  ''^''^"^^''''  ^^^^^^  "P- 
session  of  Caraccos'^lf  b    tl      '"^      n'  f"^^  ^^^''^^^^^  ?«- 

'  I"  the  month  of  jun^l ; ::  :7f^'  '^  T:  '^  '''''''''• 

an  army  of  six  thousand  me^i  nn    1  •        . ""''''  '"''^  «on«^'»trated 

of  liberation,  nearir  he  Ta        in      ^  T'^  "'  ^'^'■"'^^'^-    ^^'^  ^"'7 

'    brave  Paez/on  the  04  ,'  ofT,        ""'"^''''  ""^'^^  ^°''^«''  «nd  the 

,    mountains,  on^a^ed  them     9,f  l"''  ^"f '"°  '^'"^"Sh  a  defile  in  tho 

!    t..ttber;.alSttc^:;,f^^-:^^^^ 

in  Porto  Cabello.  were  com,.lnf.l  ^[7^'°"  ^^  --^  few,  who  took  refuge 
of  the  patriots,  in  S  Cl  wo    Yf ''^  ^^"'"""^-     ^^'^  ^»- 

;  i"^orLdi4rtoc::;:in:t:  rS::r:^^        ^^^^ 

"pirist  ll,e  discomfited  eno.nv   11  "'"i  '"l-ra  other  measurea 

I    .„ieh eity, abandoned  tt^',.:::  tl"'  u'  I'T',  ""'''"^ 

:    amid  tho  cxultino-  tran^norf,  ni         .  "'  '^""''' ''« »"tored 

On  the  23,1  of  SepteX    c!  ^  '"'  ""^"""^^  ^^  ^''^^  P^P^- 
'    under  Prion,  Cuf^an     wa^  ^J      T"  '^"^^^"^'-^^  *"  ^he  ^quadror. 

tlie  istlimus  of  Paiiam-i     Th.  i..,  i        '•'''olio,  Qmto  and 

,    in<loi,ondont„f,l,;Lv;;i*  '  '"  ^'^'"^x".  'iedared  itself 

I    erty  to  diree.     s   ,  ;:";/!' ."'T  ,  '''""■"  ""'  "'"'  "'  'i"' 

a~d,  accordingly,   in      ,e     ^1      'I'  ^  ^''"f  ■''"^^  "^  *»  »onth, 

<fco.,sa,)d  men,  l,o  gave  Intt  e  ?„"  >t         '        '  ""  "'""^  "^  ""°" 

.l.on.  forces  .a.  Piehitell    Sercst^^Vara"''' "^  '"^'""™"^^^^^ 

i^"vic.ory,d„e,i„g.eatn.ea:„;T\  e    :eZ tnT'b''™™'''''" 
fa'neral  .Sucre;  and  the  libenatin^  army  a,„i    t   .  '!""  ^.'""'' 

Morale  X  ,;'LT:iri:ri  '^^-''^--^^^  --"-t-o  by 

ftrc.  but  who  e  flee.  I^ ^n  an d  ,         T  ."  'T     "  "''  '"""'°»l  "- 

■«^'8,  was  utterly  de;ClT:'lX:dXr Cof  f  °""'T' 

i-on,  under  General  l^adilhi      Tl,.  q  ,  T         (^olombian  squad- 

and  prisoners,  nearly  two  ^^^^^^^^^ 

Vol.  mUT  '""'  '"'^  ^°'''^^^^'  ^"  consequence; 


388 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF   IIISTOBY. 


was  compelled  to  surrender  at  Marncaibo.  Despite  the  atrocitiea 
wliicli  lie  had  committed,  and  the  forfeiture  of  hia  rights  m  a 
prisoner  of  war,  he  was  treated  humanely,  and,  with  his  men,  was 
I)erniittod  to  embark  for  Cuba.  ]*orto  Cabollo,  the  Spanish  fleet 
destroyed,  was  closely  invested  both  by  land  and  sea;  and  on  the 
1st  of  December,  1823,  La  Torre,  who  commanded  it,  was  compelled 
to  capitulate. 

With  this  event  ended  a  civil  war,  lasting  for  twelve  years,  con- 
tested in  a  hundred  battles,  and  distinguished  f(jr  almost  innumera- 
blo  scenes  of  courage,  of  cruelty,  of  indomitable  patriotism  and 
obstinate  tyranny.  Though  the  arms  of  the  patriots  were  disgraced 
by  numy  excesses,  it  must  be  remendjcred  that  they  were  the  last  to 
adopt  and  the  first  to  relirKpiish  that  savage  system  of  internecine 
vengeance  which  converts  warfare  into  murder,  and  reduces  man  to 
the  wild  elements  of  his  barbarous  nature.  These  excesses  on  the 
part  of  the  republicans,  may  be  palliated,  in  some  degree,  by  the 
insidious,  but  not  altogether  inadmissable  plea  of  necessity,  while 
the  wonderful  qualities  of  bravery,  endurance,  and  i)i'rseverance 
displayed  in  their  protracted  struggle,  must  always  .secure  the 
respect  and  admiration  of  the  historical  reader. 

In  August  of  1821,  the  congress  had  adopted  a  constitution,  and 
Bolivar  had  been  elected  president  under  its  provisions.  The  nation 
first  to  recognize  the  independence  of  the  new  republic  of  Colombia 
was,  of  right,  that  which  had  first  .set  the  exanij)le  of  resistance  to 
foreign  domination — the  United  States  of  America,  The  European 
powers,  though  in  general  tacitly  admitting  the  actual  existence  of 
the  new  state,  were  more  tardy  in  nuiking  formal  acknowledgment 
of  its  independence. 

The  transactions  of  Bolivar  in  Peru,  after  the  liberation  of  his 
own  people,  have  already,  in  the  history  of  that  country,  been  briefly 
described.  Having  traced  the  Colombian  revolution  from  its  com- 
mencement to  its  final  success,  to  the  expulsion  of  the  Spaniards, 
and  the  establishment  of  a  rc})ubli(!an  goveriunent,  we  leave  it— the 
subsequent  domestic  troubles  of  the  new  republic,  and  its  separation 
into  the  independent  states  of  Equador,  New  (Jranada,  and  Vene- 
zuela, not  coming  proj)erly  within  the  limits  of  our  subject.  Of  late 
year.s,  indeed,  in  the  South  American  .states,  revolutions  anil  pro- 
nuncmmentos  have  .succeeded  each  other  with  such  startling  rai'idity 
as  almost  to  bafile  the  compiler  of  news,  and  to  warrant  their  pres- 
ent exclusion  from  the  province  of  history. 


BOLIVIA. 


TlIK  RhVOLtrTION  ,N  ,a  PAZ.-A  JUNTA  ESTABLISHED  -THE 
CITY  TAKEN  ,,  V  THE  UO  Y  .LISTS.-TH  KIR  CRUEI.T.  E.^ -TO 
PATRIOT    ARMY    MARCHES    FROM    liUENOS    AYRES— ITS 
SUCCESS  AND  SUBSEQUENT  DEFEAT— SECOND  ATTEMPT 
AT  ItEVOLUTION.-MASSACRES  IN  COCHAIiAMRA  AND 
POTOSI.— SECOND     EXPEDITION     FROM     BLENOS 
AYRES,  — ITS  DISCOMFITURE.— GUERILLA  WAR- 
FARE.— BOLIVIA     EMANCIPATED     BY     THE 
I  VICTORY  OF  ATACUCHO. 

TUK  seven  provinces  now  known  ns  Bolivia,  and  formerly  as 
I  Lpperleru,  were  the  earliest  theatre  of  war  between  the  patriots 
a.Hl  the  tyrants  of  South  America;  but,  the  operations  in  the.se  terri- 
tones  havn.g  been  mainly  carrie.l  on  by  the  republicans  of  Buenos 
Ayres,  (or  the  Un.te.l  J'rovinces,)  their  relation  ,.ay  be  mostly 
deferred  o  the  account  of  the  revolution  in  that  countrv.  Other 
our"titie        '      "'*"'"'*'  ^''""^'  '"'*''  exclusively  to  the  subject  of 

The  citizens  of  La  Paz,  deservedly  distin,n,i.shed  for  their  conrac^e 
a  d  mtelhgence,  on  the  2oth  of  March,  1«09,  excited  by  the  exa.nnle 

;;  :ir  t"  7  V"''"'""  ^^^'^^•""-"^  J^^I^  a  pubHc  meetin.  in 

th  t  c,ty  to  consider  the.r  political  prospect.     Having  deposed  the 
colo,na    author.t,es  and  created  a  provi.sional  exeeutive,'tlu  v  p  " 
kmned  the,r  n^t  to  an  elective  government,  in  the  same  ma.Lr 
exercsed  by  bpa.n  Uself.     To  suj.press  this  popular  movement 
ar,ny,  under  C.eto,  was  dispatched  against  them  by  Cisneros,  the 
viceroy  of  Buenos  Ayres,  and  another  fron.  Peru,  unck-r  the  fero  io 
Goyeneche     The  latter,  arriving  first  before  J.a  Paz,  to<,k  it 
a  resolute  defence,  ar.d  executed  numbers  of  the  principal  citi       s 
C  neros,  to  whom  he  ar,,lied  for  directions,  commanded  that  a  In 
P^.on  should  be  put  to  |eath;   but  fortunately,  before  this  .san-nun- 
rv  n>easure  was  accomplished,  the  revolution  .n  Buenos  Avres  over 
thrown,.  h,s  authority,  s.ved  the  lives  of  a  portion  of  the  .iZ 


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La  Paz,  however,  was  almost  completely  depopulated;  and  the 
inhabitantg  who  escaped,  betaking  themselves  to  the  mountains  and 
forests,  maintained  a  desperate  defence  against  the  royal  forces  until 
they  perished  b}'^  famine  or  in  battle. 

The  revolution  in  Buenos  Ayres  having  broken  out,  and  a  popular 
government  being  established  there,  an  army  was  dispatched  against 
the  royalists  in  Upper  Peru.  Balcarce,  the  commander,  alter  gaining 
several  victories,  and  exercising  some  sanguinary  reprisals,  with  six 
thousand  men  approached  the  royal  army,  somewhat  less,  under 
Goyeneche,  at  the  village  of  Desaguedero.  An  armistice  for  forty 
days,  however,  was  concluded,  which  enabled  the  latter  to  strengthen 
his  forces,  and  by  appealing  to  the  religious  fanaticism  of  his  igno- 
rant soldiery,  (assuring  them  that  the  Buenos  Ayreans  had  come 
to  take  away  their  religion,  and  that  the  Virgin  in  person  had  taken 
charge  of  their  own  ranks,)  inflamed  their  zeal  and  courage  to  the 
highest  point.  His  object  effected,  on  the  20th  of  July,  1811,  with- 
out waiting  for  the  concUision  of  the  armistice,  he  attacked  the 
patriot  army  at  Guaqui  with  such  suddenness  and  fury,  that  they 
were  completely  routed,  and  fled  from  the  field,  leaving  all  their 
artilli>ry  and  baggage  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Upper  Peru,  after 
this  decisive  defeat,  remained,  for  the  most  part,  in  the  hands  of  the 
royalists  until  the  memorable  victory  of  Sucre,  at  Ayacucho,  in  182i 
and  his  liberation  of  the  long-o])i)ressed  provinces  of  Peru. 

In  1818,  enkindled  by  the  victory  of  Belgrano,  in  Salta,  over  the 
royalist  army,  the  flame  of  revolution  again  broke  out  in  the  depart- 
ments of  La  Paz  and  Cochabamba.  The  Spaniards  were  expelled 
from  the  latter  by  the  patriots  under  Arce,  and  a  junta  was  established 
in  its  capital.  Goyeneche,  with  tlie  flower  of  his  army,  marched 
against  that  city,  and,  though  the  junta  w(juld  have  submitted  to  his 
superior  force,  the  inhabitants,  preferring  every  extremity  of  war  to 
Spanish  mercy,  resolved  to  hold  out  to  the  last.  "The  city  was 
defended  with  matchless  valour  and  resolution ;  the  inhabitants  ibuulit 
with  a  fury  and  desperation  which  nothing  but  tyranny  and  cruelly 
could  inspire;  the  women  mixed  promiscuously  with  the  men,  and 
combatted  with  equal  ardour  and  courage,  regardless  alike  of  hanl- 
ships  and  dangers.  But  the  patriots  had  more  bravery  than  discipline; 
their  efforts  were  irregular,  and  they  were  iu  a  great  measure  desti- 
tute of  arms,  but  they  fought  with  the  b"l  weapons  they  e;)uld 
obtain.  After  a  most  fearful  struggle,  the  royalists  entered  tiie 
city  over  the  dead  bodies  of  its  inhabitants;  such  as  survived  were 


SPANISH-AMERICAN    U  E  VO  L  L' TI  0  NS.  g^j 

devoted  to  massacre  and  raninp     TKn  ,.:»  i  ,. 

lawless  plunder  of  a  ferocrsolcS^a^d"^^^^^^^^^  '''  '^  ^^« 

desolation  and  horror."*        '  ^'  ^-^^ibited  a  picture  of 

While  these  atrocities  were  enapfin^  in    p^  i,  i.      , 
insurrection,  which  had  broken  out    nPoto.?'''   '"'^^'^ 
Emas,  an  officer  of  Goyeneche  with    h.  '  ^^^/"PPressed  by 

.  .„         '-'"j'enecue,  with  the  same  savage  fernnitv      at 

.h»n  ..xty  vniage,  were  laid  waste,  and  the  con^^^LZZl 
into  a  d«rti  and  the  brutal  commander,  when  flnaV  satiated  ,v^th 
massacre,  amused  himself  by  cutting  oS  the  ean,  of  ttrm.  i* 
.hom  he  captured,  and  setting  them,  thus  disfigured  al  ClT 
Reinforced  by  troops  from  Liim  tV,o>.^„„v  *  r  -,  „     '        ""^"7- 

and  tl,e  army  of  Lenos  A  vrl  in  ?'  °™' ''*'''"'' ^'^'='™'''> 
The  survivorl  from  T  n  astCe  „  o-h  TT"'''  »"««gements. 
Valla  Grande,  and  unitin;  vTh  he  pSTf  ='  'TV'  '"'"  "" 
indeed,  »me  signal  advalges;  and  r^C .fw^;^,  Sr^gS 
by  great  rancour  and  cruelty  on  both  sides,  was  wace  1  „  th  it^ 
success  to  the  republican  arms.  La  Paz  was  re.ak™rl;™  tl.e  rov 
absls,  who  m  the.r  malice  poisoned  all  the  sprin»s  of  water   n  Z 

::r;i?irs:^eh\!::ThXtS'^ 

ra^e,  that  they  cut  the  Jo^^f  Z^l  :i;::a'ne''ii ^^^  °"'- 
E  verses  soon  overtook  the  insurgents  in  their  defeat  by  Pezueh 
and  tl,e„  forced  retreat  toward  Cu.co.     Conspicuous  in  the  r  ranks 
was  an  Ind.an  named  Pomakagna,  who,  in  the  war  wiTh  Tu"! 
Amaru,  had  taken  the  royal  side,  and  had  been  rewarded  with  the 

%.,..  he  defeated  u.Voyaii;;::*',":  r' r::^,,^:  ;tT 

governor  and  comm^der-in-chief;   bn.  was  Una  ly  defeated' Tte 
fcplaymg  the  most  heroic  valour,  by  Pe.ucia  an'd  R  mfr  ;    Z 
w.d,  other  pnsoners  sn/Iered  death  by  execution  at  Cuzeo         ' 
Kondeau,  commandinnr  an  army  of  Rnpur^o  A  ,,„ 

"gnal  defeat,  the  Buenos  Ayreans  were  unable  to  tn.intain  pfslio" 
•  Nile.'  HiMor,  „f  K„„ll,  A,»,.*a  ,„rf  Mexito. 


842 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HI8T0EY. 


I  '' 


of  the  upper  provinces,  and  the  war  was  reduced  to  a  guerilla  con- 
test, in  which  Padilla,  Warnes,  and  other  popular  leaders,  still  main- 
tained the  cause  of  independence.         • 

The  great  victory  of  I3olivar's  general,  Sucre,  over  the  royal  army 
at  Ayacucho,  in  1824,  was  decisive,  not  only  of  the  fate  of  Peru 
but  of  the  adjoining  provinces.  The  victorious  general  marched  into 
Upper  Peru,  where  many  of  the  royalist  garrisons  surrendered  with- 
out opposition,  or  declared  in  favour  of  independence.  Olaneta,  the 
chief  commander  in  that  region,  after  an  ineffectual  resistance,  wag 
slain,  and  all  the  troops  in  the  country,  to  ihe  number  of  five  or  six 
thousand,  surrendered.  The  total  result  of  that  splendid  victory 
indeed,  was  a  loss  to  the  enemy,  in  the  two  Perus,  of  more  than 
eighteen  thousand  men,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  The 
Brazilians,  who  had  commenced  aggressions  against  the  distracted 
state,  were  comjielled,  by  the  prompt  resistance  of  the  patriot  general 
to  withdraw  their  forces. 

The  country  freed  from  foreign  domination,  a  general  congress 
convened  at  Chiquisaca,  on  the  6th  of  August,  1825,  published  a 
declaration  of  independence,  averring  that  "the  happy  day  has 
arrived  when  Upper  Peru  has  become  liberated  from  unjust  power 
from  the  tyrannic  and  wretched  Ferdinand  VII.,  and  this  fertile 
region  has  escaped  the  debasing  relation  of  a  colony  of  Spain; 
that  it  is  important  to  its  welfare  not  to  incorporate  itself  with  any 
of  the  co-terminous  republics,  but  to  erect  itself  into  a  sovereign  and 
independent  state,  in  relation  to  the  new  as  well  as  the  old  world* 
that  the  provinces  of  Upper  Peru,  firm  and  unanimous  in  their  reso- 
lution, proclaim  to  the  whole  earth  that  they  will  govern  themselves) 
under  their  own  constitution,  laws,  and  authorities,  in  that  way 
which  they  may  think  most  conducive  to  the  prosperity  of  the  nation 
the  inviolable  support  of  the  Catholic  religion,  and  the  maintenance 
of  the  sacred  rights  of  honour,  life,  liberty,  equality,  property  and 
security.  To  carry  into  effect  this  determination,  they  bind  themselves 
through  this  sovereign  representation,  by  their  lives,  jjroperty,  and 
sacred  honour."  It  is  supposed  that  Bolivar,  whose  armies  had  accom- 
plished their  liberation,  had  desired  the  union  of  these  provinces  with 
those  of  Lower  Peru;  but  he  offered  no  interference  with  the  free 
action  of  the  people  he  had  served.  In  honour  of  the  Liberator  of 
South  America,  the  title  of  Bolivia  was  adopted  by  the  new  state,  and 
suitable  rewards  and  honours  were  decreed  to  Sucre,  and  to  the  patriot 
army  to  which  it  waS  indebted  for  its  rescue  from  Spanish  tyranny. 


UNITED  PROVINCES  OF  LA  PLATA. 


uitiAirxiliiiJ,, 

CAUSES  OF   THE    REVOLUTION    IN    BUENOS   AYRES. — THE   VICEROYS 
LINIERS  AND   CISNEROS. — THEIR  EATE.  —  WARS  WITH   THE 
ROYALISTS  IN   UPPER   PERU:   IN   MONTE  VIDEO, — DISSEN- 
SIONS  AMONG    THE    PATRIOTS.  —  RAPID   CHANGES   OF 
GOVERNMENT.  —  ALTERNATE    SUCCESSES    OF    THE 

PATRIOTS    AND    ROYALISTS. S^iN    MARTIN. 

FALL    OF    MONTE    VIDEO. — ELECTION    OF 
PUEYBEDON   AS  SUPREME  DIRECTOR. 


The  almost  interminable  civil  feuds — the  innumerable  succession 
of  general  or  local  rulers,  and  the  inextricably  tangled  condition  of 
domestic  politics  in  the  government  or  governments  of  those  exten- 
sive provinces,  watered  by  the  Eio  de  la  Plata,  and  since  known  as- 
tlie  Argentine  Eepublic,  (or  Republic  of  La  Plata,)  during  their  pro- 
tracted revolution,  will  iiecessaiily  confine  the  account  of  that  strug- 
gle to  the  facts  most  important  in  their  emancipation  from  Spanish 
authority.  The  first  impulse  to  that  emancipation  was  given,  as 
with  all  the  South  American  states,  by  the  disturbed  condition  of 
the  government  at  home. 

When,  in  July,  1808,  news  arrived  at  Buenos  Ayres  of  the 
"cessions  of  Bayonne,"  and  the  consequent  ascendency  of  the  French 
interest  in  Spain,  the  viceroy,  Liniers,  exerted  his  influence  in  favor 
of  Napoleon.  Elio,  the  governor  of  Monte  Video,  accusing  him  of 
treason,  separated  his  own  province  from  its  allegiance,  and  found 
his  conduct  approved  by  Goyeneche,  agent  of  the  Spanish  revolu- 
tionary junta.  The  latter,  as  we  have  seen,  however,  used  every 
exertion,  and  committed  every  cruelty  in  attemjiting  to  suppress  a 
spirit  of  revolution  in  the  colonies. 


i 


I 


II 


344 


TIIK  PEOPLK'S   HOOK   OF   IIISTOKY. 


The  leaders  of  the  patriot  j)arty  in  Buenos  Ayrcs— Castelli,  Uel- 
gratu),  Cliiclaiiu,  'I'lionipson,  and  others — undeterred  by  the  terrihle, 
exainph;  of  tlie  jiatricits  at  La  I'a/,  resolved  to  take  advantage  of 
these  disturbances  to  creet  u  popular  government.  By  secret  iiidu- 
once,  they  gained  over  three  reginienta  quartered  in  the  city,  to  the 
popular  cause,  and  when,  in  May,  ISIO,  news  arrived  of  tlie  proba- 
ble subjugation  of  tlie  peninsula  by  the  French,  the  municipal 
authorities  summoned  u  ine(>ting  of  the  citizens^to  consider  their 
condition.  At  this  assembly,  after  long  and  animated  debate,  the 
peo{)]c,  protected  by  an  armed  guard,  i)asscd  resolutions  deposing  the 
viceroy,  Cisneros,  and  creating  a  j)rovisional  government. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Monte  Video,  these  procccdino's 
were  approved,  and  adhesion  was  promised  to  the  new  governmeii"- 
but  the  Spaniards  in  that  city,  landing  troops  from  the  vessels  in  tlio 
harbour,  were  enabled,  by  the  aid  of  the  deposed  vicerovs,  Liniers 
and  Cisneros,  and  the  Spanish  governors  of  Paraguay\ii'id  otlior 
provinces,  to  create  a  formidable  opposition.  'I'liey  were,  however 
defeated  by  the  popular  forces;  Cisneros  and  others  were  compelled 
to  (piit  the  country,  while  Liniers  and  other  commanders  who'hiul 
openly  levied  war  and  ravaged  the  country,  were  executed. 

The  patriot  army,  which,  under  General  Balcarce,  had  been  dis. 
patched  against  the  Spaniards  of  Upper  i'eru,  at  first  n.et  with 
complete  success,  defeating  the  royalist  army,  though  strongly 
posted,  after  an  obstinate  action,  at  Suypaeha,'  and  executing  the 
captive  generals  Nieto,  Sanz,  and  Cordova.  The  victory  of  'I'Spiza 
followed,  atid  the  Buenos  Ayrean  army  was  in  possession  of  a  great 
part  of  the  country;  but  Goyeneehe,  violating,  as  we  have  seen"^  the 
armistice  agreed  upon,  defeated  them,  afid  regained  possession  of 
most  of  the  country.  His  army,  however,  was  greatly  annoyed  by 
numerous  j^arties  of  guerillas,  wnich  harassed  it  with  continued 
desultory  attacks,  and  prevente<l  his  complete  occupation  of  the 
country;  and,  although  he  issued  the  savage  order  that  every  pris- 
oner  should  be  shot,  he  was  unable  to  repress  this  last  resource  of 
a  wronged  and  desperate  people. 

Elio,  who  had  now  been  appointed  by  the  Spanish  government 
as  viceroy  over  the  provinces  of  Kio  de  la  Plata,  held  that  of  Monte 
Video  or  the  Banda  Oriental,  (since  known  as  the  state  of  Uraguav,) 
and  opposed  a  formidable  hostility  to  the  republican  cause;  but  the 
patriot  troops,  under  Bonde.m  and  Artigas,  having  gained  a  signal 
victory  over  the  royalists  of  Las  Piedras,  marched  against  his  capital, 


SPANI8II-AMEUICAN    REVOLUTIONS. 


345 


I    to  winch  they  kid  siege.     TIic  viceroy,  in  despair,  applied  for  as- 
I    distance  to  the  PortugucHe  government  in  Bra/il,  and  tlirongl.  the 
iiillnen'-;  of  the  Princess  Cliurlotte,  sister  to  Ferdinand  V 1 1,  obtained 
j    four  thonsund  men,  whieh,  utuler  General  Sousa,  were  dispatched 
I     to  liis  assistance.     Un  the  arrival  of  these  levies,  a  trnee  was  eon- 
■    eluded,  the  patriots  and  the  Portuguese  both  engaging  to  return  to 
j    their  homes— an  agreement,  however,  violated  by  the  latter,  who 
continued  hostilities  in  the  provinces  of  the  Rio  de  la  Plata.    Ihienos 
Ayres  was  now  threatened,  both  by  the  latter  and  by  the  royalists 
of  Upper  Peru,  who  had  defeated  the  republican  army  disi)atehed 
tlntlier,  and  had  gained  possession  of  the  province  of  Salta-  but  the 
advance  of  the  Portuguese  was  checked  by  Sarratice,  a  member  f.f 
the  government,  who,  with  four  thousand  troops,  marched  agait.st 
them.    Py  a  treaty  with  the  Brazilian  minister,  (June,   1812,)  an 
indefinite  armistice  was  agreed  on,  and  the  foreign  troops  were  witli- 
druwii  from  the  territory.     Belgrano,  with  the  army  of  Peru,  havin^r 
retreated  before  the  royalist  general,  Tristan,  to  Tacuman,  made  a 
stand  there,  and  on  the  24th  of  December,  defeated  his  anta".jnist 
with  a  loss  of  eleven  hundred  men,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners. 
During  these  transactions,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  keep  track  of 
the  continual  changes  in  the  popular  government  of  Buenos  Ayres. 
Conspiracies  and  treasons  were  rile,  and,  on  one  occasion,  f„r  formiivT 
a  plot  to  defeat  the  revolution  and  ])ut  to  death  the  prinei])al  leaden^ 
twenty  citizen.s,  some  of  them  wealthy  and  influential,  were  tried  and 
executed.     Elio  having  violated  the  treaty,  IVfonte  Video  was  a-^iin 
besieged,  and,  in  the  course  of  the  eami)aign,  Colonel  San  Martin 
afterwards  so  famous  as  the  Liberator  of  Chili,  first  distinguished 
himself  by  defeating  the  enemy  on  the  river  Parana.     (February, 
1813.)     At  the  same  time,  Belgrano,  being  reinforced,  attacked  the 
royahsts  under  Tristan,  in  Salta,  and,  after  a  hard-fought  action  of 
four  houns,  again  defeated  them,  and,  in  eflect,  made  prisoners  of  the 
whole  army.     This  advantage,   however,   was  lost  to  the  patriot 
arms,  in  consequence  of  the  treachery  of  Tristan,  who,  with  his 
troops,  having  been  permitted  to  depart  on  taking  oath  not  to  serve 
against  the  republicans,  nevertheless  immediately  joined  the  army 
of  Goyeneche. 

Pezuela,  who  succeeded  the  latter,  again  engaged  the  victorious 
general,  not  ftir  from  Potosi,  and  gained  the  advantage.  In  an.nhor 
action,  near  the  close  of  November,  the  patriots,  alter  fightin-r  with 
admirable  courage  and  obstinacy,  were  again    defeated,  and'  were 


846 


Til  K   I'KOl'LE'H   ItOOK   OF   IIIBTOKY. 


compelled  onco  moro  to  rclinq\u8h  Upper  Porn  to  the  enemy. 
IJueiioH  Ayres  wiw  onco  uguin  tlirealened  with  the  march  of  hostilo 
iirniios  Croni  opposite  directions. 

In  this  dJHiustroiis  and  ominous  condition  of  alUiirs,  the  valour  and 
genius  of  San  Martin,  who  succeeded  IJelgrano,  came  most  ojjpor- 
tunely  to  the  service  of  the  patriot  cause.  In  a  brief  time,  he  raised 
a  fresh  army  of  three  thousand  five  hundred  men,  for  the  defciieo 
of  the  country,  and  so  skillfully  directed  the  operations  of  the  guer- 
illas that  the  enemy,  continually  harassed  and  deprived  of  provisions 
were  compelled  to  relinquish  Salta  aud  other  provinces  to  tlie  rejjub- 
licans.  This  success  was  attended  by  others  ecpuilly  cheering.  The 
little  lleet  of  Jhienos  Ayres,  commanded  by  Mr.  JJrovvu,  an  Kngli.sh 
merchant  of  that  city,  gained  a  decided  victory  over  that  of  the 
enemy,  and  assisted  in  pressing  the  siege  of  Monte  Video.  Vigodot 
who  had  succeeded  Elio,  was  finally  compelled  to  surrender  to  the 
besieging  forces,  \inder  Alvear,  and  live  thousand  five  hmulred 
prisoners,  witii  eleven  thousand  muskets,  and  an  immense  (piantity 
of  other  military  stores,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors. 

This  success  led  to  an  instant  renewal  of  anarchy  among  the 
j>atriots.  Artigas  claimed  and  .seized  the  government  of  Monte 
^'ideo,  and  Alvear  (.lanuiirv,  1815)  gave  deep  discontent  by  ohtiiininiT 
the  chief  ilireetorship  of  lUienos  Ayres.  Civil  dissensions  prevailed 
until  tlie  latter,  an  object  of  jH)pular  odium,  was  compelled  to  leave 
the  country.  Foreign  disasters  succeeded  these  (h)mestic  (piarrels, 
By  the  victory  ol'  Sipesipe,  in  November,  lyio,  the  most  important 
provinces  in  Upper  IVru  were  again  thrown  into  possession  of  the 
rovalists,  aud  linally,  after  revolution  on  revolution,  the  supreme 
directorship,  under  better  auspices,  in  March,  181H,  was  conferred 
on  Juan  Martin  I'ueyrcdon,  whose  election  quieted  the  factions  ia 
the  capital,  and  for  a  time  gave  stability  to  the  government. 


8PANIBU-AMJSKI0AN   REVOLUTIONS.  847 


CHAPTER   H. 

PKOS    OP    THE    PATRIOTS.— OBSTINACY    OP    ARTIOAS— THE 
PORTUGUESE    TAKE    MONTE    VIDEO,     AND     DEPEAT    THE 
.REPUDLICAN    ARMY.  —  SAN    MARTIN,  — HIS    PASSAGE 
OP  THE  ANDES  AND  VICTORIOUS  CAMPAIGN  IN 
CHIU.  — UPPER  PERU.— CONTINUED  RE- 
SISTANCE OP  THE  UANDA  ORIENTAL. 

After  providing  for  tl.e  defence  of  the  eountry  against  its  external 
cneniicH,  the  director  turned  bis  attention  to  reconciling  or  crusiiin-r 
Its  Jon.cst.c  foes  JIc  sent  a  supply  of  arms  and  munitions  to  ArtU 
gas,  at  Monte  Video,  to  assist  him  in  repelling  the  Portuguese;  but 
that  officer,  liavmg  received  them,  refused  to  listen  to  overtures  of 
liiendsh,,).  At  Santa  Fe,  despite  the  attempts  of  the  capital  to  over- 
awe ur  negotuue,  the  citi/.ens  maintained  an  attitude  of  determined 
hostihty  to  the  general  government.  Notwithstanding  these  untoward 
circumstances,  the  congress,  convened  from  a  number  of  states  on  the 

,    "!  '^"'{'„^^^^'  ^'^"^"'^  *  rnanifesto,  declaring  the  independence  of 
the  Lnited  rrovmces  of  the  liio  de  la  Plata 

Meanwhile,  in  Upper  Peru,  the  arms  of  the  patriots  again  met 
^mh  considerable  success.  Colonel  Padilla,  attacked  by  a  division 
of  the  royalist  army,  entrusted  the  command  of  several  posts  to  his 
captauis,  and  one  to  his  roij,.  The  enemy  assaulted  furiously,  but 
were  co.npletely  repulsed  and  defeated,  and  were  pursued  by  the 
victors  till  they  arrived  at  a  place  of  defence.  The  lady  presented 
her  husband  a  standard  of  the  enemy,  taken  with  her  own  hands 
and  was  afterwards  api.ropriately  rewarded  by  government  with  the 
cornnnssion  and  pay  of  a  lieutenant-colonel.  Another  victory  was 
obtained  by  Warnes  over  a  body  of  a  thousand  men,  commanded 
by  the  bloody  lacon,  in  which  the  latter  were  almost  entirely  de- 
stroyed. In  the  provinces  of  Salta  and  Jujuy,  Guemes  and  other 
guenl  a  leaders  waged  a  desultory,  but  highly  successful  warfare. 

In  December,  1816,  the  Portu^n^cse  made  a  grand  demonstration 
against  the  new  commonwealth,     droops  were  shipped  from  Lisbon 
a.id  an  army  of  ten  thousand  men  was  collected  at  liio  Grande! 
iliKS  iorce,  m  three  divisions,  under  Generals  Lecor,  Silviera,  and 
Urau,  invaded  the  Banda  Oriental.     Desp.ite  some  spirited  local 


348 


THE  PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF  HISTORY, 


opposition,  this  overwhelming  force  took  possession  of  the  capital 
Monte  Video,  and  Artigns  was  reduced  to  practice  a  guerilla  wurfuro 
against  the  invaders  in  the  o[)en  country.  These  disasters  were  suc- 
ceeded by  a  severe  defeat  of  the  patriot  army,  under  La  Torre  wiio 
after  a  sanguinary  action  at  Arayo  de  los  Catalanos,  were  routed 
with  great  loss.  In  the  face  of  these  miserable  reverses,  and  of  the 
gener.'d  desire  of  the  inhabitants  of  his  province,  Artigas  still  refused 
to  unite  with  the  confederacy. 

These  misfortunes  on  the  sea-board  were  in  some  degree  compen- 
sated by  the  splendid  success  of  San  Martin,  in  his  memorable  cam- 
paign of  Chili.  The  latter  country  had  assisted  the  United  Provinces 
with  men  and  money,  against  Elio;  and  San  Martin,  now  governor 
of  Cuyo  or  Mendozn,  conceived  the  project  of  serving  the  cause  of 
freedom  in  both  countries,  by  a  vigorous  assault  on  the  common  enemy 
in  their  strongholds  of  Cliili.  Though  his  province  was  thinlv  peo- 
pled, and  much  wasted  and  impoverished  by  the  Spaniards,  so"  great 
was  the  personal  devotion  of  the  people  to  their  chief,  that  they 
placed  all  their  means  and  services  at  his  disposal.  Six  hundred 
slaves,  three  hundred  horses,  and  ten  thousand  mules  were  provided  for 
the  service  of  the  expedition ;  troops  were  transported  from  Buenos 
Ayres:  and  after  a  year  spent  in  preparation  and  discipline,  the  darin,"' 
commander  set  forth  on  an  expedition,  from  its  difTicullies  and  extra- 
ordiViary  success,  one  of  the  most  memorable  in  martial  history. 

"He  had  to  cross  tlie  majestic  Andes,  with  an  army  accotiiiianied 
with  baggage  and  artillery,  which  for  three  hundred  miles  presented 
rugged  and  almost  inaccessible  summits  and  narrow  defiles,  adrnittiinT 
of  two  persons  only  abreast,  along  the  giddy  verge  of  frightful  pre- 
cipices, where  eternal  frosts  hold  their  undisputed  reign.  This  pass- 
age with  an  army  over  the  highest  mountains  in  the  world,  is  an 
achievement  more  daring  and  difficult  than  that  of  the  renowned 
Hannibal  in  crossing  the  Alps;  and  perhaps  there  is  notliing  on  the 
page  of  history  that  surpasses  it.  But  no  obstacles  could  shake  the 
purpose  of  San  Martin ;  no  difficulties  were  too  great  for  liis  genius  to 
overcome.  In  thirteen  days  the  frozen  Andes  were  vanquislied  and 
passed,  with  the  loss  of  five  thousand  horses  and  mules  and  of  a  few 
men.  The  liberating  army,  soon  after,  encountered  the  enemy  at 
Chacabuco;  and  the  veterans  who  had  conquered  the  Ande?,  expe- 
rienced no  difficulty  in  vanquishing  the  instruments  of  tyranny. 
Seldom  has  a  victory  been  more  complete  or  a  triumph  more  splen- 
did.    'In  twenty-four  days,'  said  the  commander,  'we  have  crossed 


SPANISII-AMERICAN   KKVuLUTlONS. 


849 


the  most  elevated  mountains  of  tlic  globe,  terminated  the  campaign, 
put  an  end  to  the  sway  of  tyrants  and  given  liberty  to  Chili.'  The 
rcnuiaiit  of  the  royalists  took  refuge  iiv  Taleahuano.  Tlic  inhabitants 
forriKHl  a  junta  at  Santiago,  and  as  a  reward  for  his  services  offered 
to  San  Martin  the  dictatorsliip  of  Chili,  which  he  declined,  and  this 
power  was  vested  in  Picrnardo  O'lliggins. 

"After  this  splendid  victory,  thr  General  of  the  Andes,  as  San  Martin 
Win  now  called,  returned  to  Bnmios  Ayres  to  concert  a  i)lan  with 
the  f^'ovornment  to  direct  the  victorious  arms  of  the  republic  against 
Peni.  As  he  approached  Mendoj5a,the  capital  of  Cuyo,  all  the  in- 
liMhilanlP  of  the  town  flocked  out  to  meet  him;  the  youth  strewed 
tlio  rcnid  with  roses,  and  all  demonstrated  the  most  lively  sensations 
ot'iianiiration^and  joy  at  beholding  the  hero  of  the  Andes  and  the 
Liberator  of  Chili.  At  Buenos  Ayres,  ihe  same  sentiments  prevailed, 
and  proj.arations  were  making  to  receive  him  with  every  mark  of 
respect  and  honour;  but  being  apprized  of  what  was  intended,  he 
stole  into  the  city  unobserved,  to  the  no  small  disappointment  of 
the  people."* 

In  r].per  Pern,  the  talent  and  energy  of  Belgrano  had  now,  in 
greut  measure,  redeemed  the  re]>ublican  cause.  Serna,  the  chief 
commander  of  the  royalist  forces,  was  compelled  to  retreat  bef.i'e  the 
attacks  of  the  guerillas,  and  the  ferocious  Facon  was  destroyed,  acci- 
(lently  (or  iirovidentially),  by  a  .stroke  of  lightning.  The  Banda 
Oriental,  under  Artigas,  still  maintained  an  attitude^  of  hostility  to 
the  rest  of  the  republic;  and  two  successive  detachment.s,  dispatched 
by  tbe  director  to  red  ice  the  refractory  province,  under  Jtlontes  de 
Oca  and  Colonel  Balearce,  were  furiou.sly  attacked  by  the  Monte 
Videan  chief,  and  completely  defeated. 

*  Niles'  South  America. 


3uO 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  0?  BIBTOBY. 


CHAPTER   HI. 

AFFAIRS  IN  Clliri  —DISASTERS  OP  THE  PATRIOTS. —ncTORT 
OP   SAN    MARTIN   AT   TUB   PLAINS  OF    M  A  Y  PH  — I  N  D  E  PEN  D- 
ENCE  OF  CHILI  SECUP  E  D.— CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED 
PROVINCES— RESIGNATION     OF      P  U  E  Y  R  E  DO  N.— CON- 
TINUED CIVIL  DISSENSIONS,— FINAL   RESTORATION 
OP   HARMONY— THE   REPUBLIC    ACKNOWLEDGED 
BY  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

In  Chili,  San  Martin  and  O'Higgina  were  now  strenuously  attemnt 
ing  to  reduce  the  strong  fortress  of  Talcnhuano,  the  last'refucre  of 
the  royalists  in  that  country.     But  the  viceroy  of  Lima  contriv^ed  to 
throw  a  force  of  fifteen  hundred  men  into  the  disputed  post;  and 
not  long  after,  resolved  to  anticipate  tlie  intended  attack  of  San 
Martin  in  Peru,  landed  five  thousand  troops,  under  General  Osorio 
at  the  same  place.     That  commander,  with  a  force  of  eight  thousand 
men,  now  assumed  the  offensive,  and  marched  for  the  capital  of  Chili 
San  Martin,  after  somewhat  annoying  his  march,  on  the  19th  of 
March,  made  a  successful  attack  on  the  enemy,  whose  van  was  driven 
into  the  streets  of  Talca.     But  that  same  night  the  rovalist  general  in 
turn  attacked  the  encampment  of  the  patriots  with  such  suddenness 
and  fury  that  they  were  completely  routed,  and  San  Martin,  with  the 
relics  of  his  army,  was  compelled  to  retreat  to  the  pass  of  AnTiilcnni 
Undismayed  by  this  disaster,  he  betook  himself  to  the  "capital' 
where,  by  extraordinary  exertion.s,  a  fresh  army  was  rais.Hl   whicV 
on  the  6th  of  April,  1818,  on  the  Plait.a  of  Muvpn,  again  en-a-rcd 
the  enemy.     A  most  splendid  victory,  in  which  the  sliani,sh  "armv 
was  nearly  annihilated,  was  the  result.     The  independence  of  Chiii 
and  Pern  was  secured,  and  San  Martin,  the  object  of  enthusiastic 
gratiturlc  and  admiration,  his  project  fully  accomplished,  returned  to 
Buenos  Ay  res. 

On  the  25th  of  May,  1819,  the  congress  of  the  United  Provinces 
publicly  proclaimed  a  constitution,  of  a  federal  nature,  and  not  ma- 
terially differing  from  that  of  the  United  States  of  America.  Le-rig. 
lation  was  vested  in  two  houses,  one  composed  of  deputies  electcd'by 
the  people,  and  the  other  of  senators  elected  by  the  provinces.  The 
exrcutiv(^  pcnver  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  single  person,' called 


I  "''A^'^J'-AMKKICAN  REVOLUTIONS.  351 

tl>e  .liroctor.  Equality  of  nil  citizens,  freedom  of  the  proas,  &o,  were 
niuionnce,!  Soon  after,  Pueyredon.  eonaiderablo  diHuflection  to  hig 
rers,,n  existing  roH.gncd  the  office  of  supreme  director,  an.l  Jo.seph 

,  Rondeau  was  chosen  temporarily  to  fill  his  place,  until  the  election 
of  a  new  director  under  the  constitution. 

I        ny  a  singular  complication  of  hostilities,  Artigns,  who  had  lon« 

c..n  bravely  defending  the  Banda  Oriental  against  the  overwhelming 

forces  of  Brazil,  afler  receiving  the  assistance  and  rejecting  the  uilf 

Zl  f  ZZT'f^''  '''"  '""i"t'^i"«^l  hi«  ^lubious  position, 
n  February  1820,  the  director  was  defeated  by  the  guerilhL  culled 
the  Monteneros  headed  by  Ramire.,  an  officer  of  Artigas,  and  such 
was  the  effect  of  this  disaster  that  the  authority  of  the  central  «ov. 
ernmont  was  completely  prostrated.  The  victor,  with  three  thousand 
nion,  advanced  wnh.n  seventy  miles  of  Buenos  Ayres;  and  Puevre- 
■lon,  with  \n.  friends,  the  chief  objects  of  enmity,  fled  to  the  Portu- 
guese for  safety.  Rondeau,  after  his  defeat,  returned  to  the  capital, 
but  his  authority  was  at  once  overthrown,  and  a  provisional  govern- 
ment was  ai,pointed  by  the  municipality.  Treaty  was  then  made 
with  Ramirez,  an.l  a  most  rapid  succession  of  revolutions  placed  the 
capital  in  the  hands  of  one  ambitious  chief  after  another.  A  disgrace- 
ful secret  negotiation  with  France  by  the  late  congress  was  discovere.l 
intomled  to  place  the  republic  under  the  control  of  that  country  and 
all  the  members  who  had  favoured  it  were  put  under  arre»t 

The  state  of  anarchy,  especially  in  the  capital,  which  succeeded 
these  events  is  almost  beyond  description,  and  the  lives  of  manv 
estimable  citi/ens  were  sacrificed  in  the  civil  feuds  by  which  the 
whole  state  was  distracted.     The  various  factions  under  Ramirez 
Carrera,  and  Alvear,  and  under  Dorego  and  Rodriguez,  were  en- 
gaged in  civil  war,  which  finally,  after  various  vicissitudes,  resulted 
in  the  ascendancy  of  the  latter  at  the  seat  of  government.     (October, 
1820.)    Carrera,  indeed,  still  continued  dcsper.ately  to  rava-e  the 
country;  and  Ramirez,  the  army  of  Artigas  having  been  defeated  and 
almost  destroyed  by  the  Portuguese,  supplanted  that  chief  in  the 
command  of  the  Banda  Oriental,  and  threatened  the  citv  of  Buenos 
Ayres.    On  the  21st  of  July,  1821,  however,  he  was  completely 
defeated  by  the  government  troops,  at  Francisco,  and  died  on  the 
field  of  battle,  only  two  hundred  of  his  men   escaping.     Carrera 
whose  whole  career  had  been  distinguished  bv  great  ferocity  and 
carnage,  was  also  defeated,  in  the  following  month,  and  on  the  4th 
of  September  was  shot  in  the  public  square  of  Mendoza.     Two  of 


352 


TlIK  l'K(jrLE"g   r.OOK  OF  IIISTOEY. 


his  brothers  had  perished  on  the  same  spot,  and  the  only  flivour  he 
askcv.  was  a  burial  in  the  same  grave  with  them. 

These  civil  wars  at  last  brought  to  a  close,  the  legislative  junta 
and  the  executive,  to  quiet  the  rancour  of  the  contending  factions 
passed  an  act  of  amnesty,  and  turned  their  attention  to  reforming  tlie 
administration  of  affairs.     In  September,  1821,  a  congre-     from  the 
several  provinces  assembled  at  Cordova,  and  eflbrts  were  made  to 
bnngabouta  federal  union,  but  various  sectional  jealousies  prevented 
tlie  adoption  of  the  plan.     "The  commencement  of  the  year  1802 
found  the  affairs  of  the  United  Provinces  in  a  more  prosperous  cw' 
dition;  the  internal  enemies  of  the  republic  had  been  destroyed  or 
driven  out  of  the  country;  ihc  voice  of  faction  was  silenced-  the 
government  had  acquired  energy  and  respect?,  and  was  en<racred  in 
works  of  improvement,  in  forming  schools  and  establishing. libraries 
calcukted  to  prepare  the  people  for  the  appreciation  and  enjovment 
of  liberty.     The  papers  discussed  freely,  and  often  ably,  im,,ortant 
political  questions  connected  with  their  new  situation.     A  splendid 
edifice  for  a  congressional  hall  was  erected  on  the  same  spot  where 
in  1780,  were  reared  the  dungeons  of  Oruro,  in  which  were  immured 
those  accused  of  promoting  the  independence  of  Peru."*    Peace 
was  restored  with  Santa  Fe  and  with  other  provinces  heretofore' at 
enmity  with  Buenos  Ayres,  and  treaties  of  mutual  defence  and  -illi 
anco  were  made.     Tlie  Bnnda  Oriental  and  its  capital,  Monte  Video 
were  still  retained  by  the  Portuguese  forces.  ' 

In  July,  1823,  strenuous  attempts  were  made  to  negotiate  a  treatr 
of  peace  with  Spain;  but  despite  the  liberal  conduct  of  the  con-ro«« 
which  offered  twenty  millions  of  dollars  to  the  mother-country  'to 
secure  her  against  foreign  invasion,  the  Spanish  government  refused 
to  come  to  terms.     In  autumn  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Rodney  the 
minister  from  the  Fnited  States,  and  the  first  envov  received  by  the 
republic  from  any  foreign  'power,  arrived  at  Buenos  Ayre.'^.    His 
presentation  to  the  government  took  place  with  extraordinary  stnte 
and  parade,  and  was  hailed  with  much  enthusiasm  by  the  peopic- 
but  he  did  not  long  survive  his  arrival,  dying  early  in  the  followiii^r 
year.    Jn  October,  1824,  Alvear,  the  minister  dispatched  in  return' 
was  presented  to  the  executive  of  the  United  States;  but  his  term 
of  office  was  equally  brief,  Iiis  government  recalling  him  to  commaiul 
the  army  destined  against  the  royalists  in  Upper  Peru. 

•  Niles'  South  America. 


ily  favour  he 

islative  junta 
ling  factions, 
reforming  tlie 
■P'  -  from  the 
'ere  made  to 
ies  prevented 
Q  year  1822, 
Jsperous  con- 
destroyed  or 
silenced;  the 
!  engaged  in 
ling  libraries, 
d  enjoyment 
y,  imj)ortant 
A  splendid 
spot  where, 
ere  immured 
'»."*    Peace 
heretofore  at 
^te  and  alii- 
loute  Video, 


iato  a  treaty 
he  congress, 
'-country,  to 
iient  refused 
Rodney,  the 
3ived  by  the 
!^yres.  His 
dinary  state 
the  people; 
le  following 
1  in  return, 
Lit  Jiis  term 
o  command 


•r^^: 


I! 


I 


-aNi*s:*^3^/»'. 


r^ 


^y,  ^;  -^  ■■  .-^i-.   ? 


VKj.i:ii/i.rjiu.Y   ur    riiK 


^^i^2>i 


.ly.y.vs    y.v   i'UEsK.VLE    of 


THE    ij\ia u.va. 


PART    III. 


^t  piin^um  k  %\\mm. 


BE  AZIL. 


CHAPTER   I. 

BISCOVERY  OF   BRAZIL   BY   CABRAL.-OF   RIO  DE   JANEIRO    BY 
SOUSA.  —  FRENCH   COLONY.— AGGRESSIONS    OF    THE   DUTCH  — 
THEIR  CONQUESTS.— COUNT  MAURICE  OF   NASSAU— HIS 
SUCCESSES.— HIS  RECALL.— IMPOLIC  Y  OF  THE  DUTCH 
—THEIR    EXPULSION    FROM    BRAZIL. 

In  pursuing  their  splendid  career  of  African  and  East  Indian  dis- 
covery, the  Portuguese,  by  chance,  came  upon  a  region  vastly  more 
extansive  and  valuable  than  their  most  coveted  acquisitions  in  the 
opposite  direction.     Alvarez  de  Cabral,  in  1500,  sailing  with  thirteen 
vessels,  on  the  route  to  India,  to  avoid  the  calms  experienced  on  a 
former  voyage  took  a  cou,se  more  to  the  south-west,  and  accident- 
ally discovered  the  coast  of  Brazil.     On  the  3d  of  May  he  lauded 
.a  about  seventeen  degrees  of  south  latitude,  at  a  harbour  which  he 
cal  ed  Porto  Seguro,  erected  a  cross,  performed  mass,  took  possession 
ot  the  country,  and  named  it  "Terra  Nova  de  la  Vera  Cruz  "     The 
natives  appeared  of  a  gentle  and  kindly  disposition,  and  their  com- 
plexion strongly  resembled  that  of  their  visitors.     He  sent  home 
a  vessel,  with  an  account  of  the  discovery,  and  left  on  shore  two 
convicts  to  learn  the  language  of  the  people 

Expedi^tions  were  soon  dispatched  from  Portugal  to  the  newly- 
Vol.  hi, — 23 


364 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


discovered  land,  and  territorial  disputes  with  Spain  were  settled  by 
an  agreement  that  Portugal  should  possess  all  the  country  between 
the  two  great  rivers  Amazon  and  La  Plata.  A  dye-wood  of  great 
value  was  soon  discovered,  and  imported  in  quantities  to  Portugal- 
and  from  the  name  of  this  commodity,  (Pag  Erases,  or  wood  of  fire ) 
the  appellation  of  the  territory,  by  degrees,  was  changed  to  Brazil. 
On_^the  1st  of  January,  1535,  Martin  Alphonso  de  Sousa,  sailin"  to 
this  coast,  discovered  that  splendid  harbour,  called  by  the  natives 
Nitherohy,  and  which,  supposing  it  to  be  the  mouth  of  a  great  river 
he  called  Rio  de  Janeiro — the  River  of  January.  Various  settle- 
ments, however — as  those  of  San  Salvador,  Pernarabuco,  St.  Vicente 
and  others — were  founded  before  the  natural  advantages  of  this  ad- 
mirable locality  were  turned  to  account.  A  colony  of  French  Prot- 
estants, dispatched  by  Coligni,  was  planted  in  the  new  country;  but 
the  clergy,  by  their  indiscreet  zeal,  became  embroiled  with  the  Por- 
tuguese, and  their  establishment,  in  1578,  was  attacked  and  broken 
up  by  the  latter. 

The  work  of  settlement  by  the  Portuguese  proceeded  slowly,  but 
uninterrupiedly  till  the  year  1626,  when  the  Dutch,  ambitious  of 
inheriting  a  share  in  the  New  World,  established  a  West  India 
Company,  and  dispatched  a  fleet  to  Brazil.  The  intruders  took 
possession  of  its  capital,  San  Salvador,  and  the  surrounding  country. 
War  with  Spain  and  Portugal  immediately  ensued,  and  San  Sal- 
vador was  recaptured  by  a  powerful  Portuguese  fleet.  In  1630 
forty-six  Dutch  vessels  arrived  off  Pernambuco,  where  they  landed 
three  thousand  troops.  That  province  and  several  others  were  sub- 
dued and  acquired  by  the  invaders;  and  so  successful  were  they  in 
naval  operations  that,  it  is  said,  during  the  war,  they  captured  five 
hundred  and  forty-seven  ships,  fitted  out  against  them  by  Spain, 
together  with  a  treasure  of  forty-five  millions  of  florins. 

In  1636,  John  Maurice,  count  of  Nassau,  with  the  imposing  title 
of  "Governor  of  Brazil  and  South  America,"  dispatched  from  llol. 
land  with  a  large  force,  landed  four  thousand  men  on  the  coa.st. 
and  defeated  the  Portuguese,  afler  an  obstinate  battle,  near  tlie  for- 
tress of  Porto  Calvo,  which,  with  other  places,  he  soon  after  took. 
Four  years  afterwards,  a  fleet  of  ninety  ships  was  dispatched  by 
Spain  to  expel  the  Dutch  from  Brazil.  A  desperate  action  with  the 
fleet  of  the  lattei',  under  IIuygen.s,  lasting  for  three  days,  ensued;  but 
the  Spaniards  were  at  last  terribly  defeated,  and  being  driven  on  the 
shoals  off  the  coast,  great  numbers  perished  by  shipwreck  and  of 


^:^:^L^'^'  "-*  -™"^.  only  «ve  V  J, 

cended  the  Ihrone.  Count  SlrioTh'!"'  "^  "'  ''™8an.a,  a,- 
harbinger  of  peace  be::  „''p:r::U  iTll  ''r"'  '°/=  "■= 
exertion,  to  extend  h«  conquered  Zr  1  '  '•"="'™*'W  1>« 
(pace  in  Europe,  and  a  ^^^ ^J^tt  t^T'^  "^' 
plished,  he  had  taken  vr1„,m«  America)  was  accom- 

hold,  both  in  BraS  and  Afrt    """""'  ''°''  ""i"*"'  """J" 

thilaLTntanL 'Itiorf  "^'"'^  °'  ^°"»^-  *-"  V 
policy  and  n,isn,ra3n7hrr°'  ""t™"  '«  ''^  "■o  ™ 
Lpany.     That  corporat  „n    W      '^™'^  """  ^"'"'^  ^«  I-'-i" 
exaction,  on  ,he  pZIu"'s^I,:,':'::'7 ■'"'''"'  ""''  '"'J"'''-'' 
excited  groat  discontent?  a"dM«nC  ^^ri™"")  P'-inoe,. 

.bi.  nnjnst  and  hazardou^  polie  "r^^a^ed  wTTf  ''f"" 
ofwar,  and  the  greater  part  of  hi  forceTrnT644Te  1  *'f=",*'P- 
tliat  time,  seven  provinces  lhi«„  .„  '  j  ^  '  °  '""  ^™^''-  ^t 
bee.  broight  b/hilS  untr^  f'S'^d '"":rr '''^ 
the  native  inhabitants  and  the  sold  ei  I„d  sailors  r  '  "'"*  ^''^'' 
thoas.,nd  Dutch  citiiasns  and  siilv^l,?  j  '  """""""'y 
ne.ly.acqnired  territory  -^      °"™'*  "=«'-°  "^""^  »  *« 

The  government  of  the  colony  was  next  entr„.f.j  . 
of  wronij.headed  citizens  wl,„  1,  entrusted  to  a  commission 

ious  mefsure,  sool  Zve    £  C""'  "'""'*''"  '""  "«=  <">°'"'- 
connivance  of  the  PoZelJ'T""""'  'o '«*™«-    By  the 

Feraande.  Veira,  a  J^Tota       T;i:ir;ut''o'ir  .""^  T  .■^""" 
ence,  was  commenced   .,n,l  .»    i    !  ?  °   ,'  ^^''^^^^  »"^1  inAu- 

tl-atriollanrrspteLerutrnof       ."''^  ''"^^  '^'^"'  and  bravery, 
She  dispatch  d  flee   a        fl  T     T^f "''  ^''*'  "°^^^^  *°  ^^P''^^^  ^^ 
expense^ndlo     enf  L  7n       ^^".^''''Pr^^  ^^-i^^^J.  and,  at  vast 
l4her^rt.y--i;:— -^-^^^^ 
her  possessions  in  Bru.il  to  the  enemy.     8i„ce  th^ll    1     P 
guese  have  remained,  almost  without  dispmrm^tersof  th  "' 

empire  of  Bnril     n,,   «      •  ,      i^"''^' "''^ters  of  the  immense 

«tLti..n  t  e^t^^^^^^^^^^^^  nearly  a  hundred  times  greater  in 
.n  our  own  darerel  i  to  \f  "'f'  ''/''  long  a  colony,  and 
extent  and  cap li  iS  t  leL  1  "''''''T'''''  «*''*«'  -calling,  in 
Old  World  or  the  New  '         '""''  P"^'^'^'^^  ^^"P^^««  «f  tl^« 


So6 


TUK   rKOi'L,K'ii  BOOK  OF  lUSTOBY. 


CE AFTER  n. 


r 


BRAZIL   A   PENAL   COLONY— THE    RESULT.  — OPPRE-SSION  OP  ^HB 
NATIVES. THE    FEUDAL    SYSTEM. — OOVERNOR-OENEKAL    AP- 
POINTED.— STORY   OF    CARAMURU.  —  BAHIA. — THE    JESUITS. 

WAR     WITH     THE     CAHETE8. MEM      DE     8A.  —  HIS 

CRUSADE   AGAINST   CANNIBALISM.  —  WAR  WITH   THE 
AYMORES. — THEIR   CHARACTERISTICS. 

The  contest  between  the  Dutch  and  the  Portuguese  for  the  occu- 
pation of  Brazil,  and  the  final  !u«cendoncy  of  the  latter  having  been 
briefly  sketched,  we  revert  to  tlie  domestic  condition  of  the  colonies 
first  planted  there  by  the  saccessful  nation.  At  an  early  day,  con- 
victs and  criminals  were  transported  thither,  who,  by  their  violence 
an(i  oppression,  exasperated  the  natives,  at  lirst  kindly  disposed  to 
the  new  comers.  Retaliation  thus  provoked,  the  usual  career  of 
mas.'^acre  and  enslavement  went  rapidly  forward;  the  old  women 
and  children  in  the  villages  they  subdued,  being  butchered  by  the 
Tortuguese,  and  the  adults  being  reserved  as  slaves. 

The  sovereign  of  Portugal,  by  a  singular  policy,  first  colonized 
Brazil  on  the  feudal  system,  bestowing  extensive  cH^j^unurs  (captain- 
cies or  provinces)  on  grandees  who'  had  rendered  services  to  the 
crown.  Thus,  Martin  Alphonso  de  Sousa,  the  discoverer  of  Rio 
Janeiro,  and  Pedro  Lopez,  his  brother,  ea(;h  received  allotments 
extending  for  fifty  leagues  along  the  coast,  and  similar  spacious 
tracts  were  ceded  to  others.  These  capilanias  were  hereditary,  and 
Ihe  lord  of  eacii  had  supreme  jurisdiction,  both  civil  and  criminal, 
in  his  extended  domains,  and  made  war  with  tlie  native  tribes,  issued 
laws,  and  exacted  taxes  at  his  pleasure.  The  despotic  exercise  of 
this  authority,  at  length  occasioned  its  resumption  by  the  crown, 
the  lands,  however,  being  left  in  possession  of  the  grantees;  and  a 
governor-general,  Thome  de  Sousa,  in  April,  1549,  accompanied  by 
the  first  Jesuits  who  ever  came  to  America,  landed  in  All  Saints' 
Bay,*  and  a.ssumed  the  general  jurisdiction. 

At  that  place  he  found  an  aged  settler,  named  Diogo  Alvarez, 
who,  in  youth,  having  been  wrecked  tliere,  and  having  seen  liia 
companions  devoured   by  tlie  savages,    had  become  a  slave  to  the 

*  Bahi.i  de  toJoa  os  Santos. 


tor  the  occu- 


THE  P0RTUGUK8K  IN  AMERICA.  gg^ 

latter.  He  had  saved  from  the  wreck  a  musket  and  some  barrels 
of  powder,  and  ook  oeeasion,  by  shooting  a  bird,  to  exhibit  to  h 
masters  the  terr.i.c  power  whieh  was  lodged  in  tlK,;e  utensi  s  They 
cried  Qaramuru!  Caramurul"  (man  of  fire  I)  and,  filled  with  respS 
for  the  deadly  instrument  and  its  owner,  made  him  their  eh  ?Ta 
war,  and,  finally,  their  sovereign.  By  his  native  wives  he  had  a 
numerous  family,  and  it  is  said  that  the  best  families  in  Bahia  trace 

loaded  her  with  Brazd-wood,  and  sailed  to  France-  but  not  bein! 

which  he  fortified,  and  where  Be  Sousa  found  him.     He  was  o) 
great  service  to  the  governor  in  his  dealings  with  the  native  tribes 

Houses  were  iMiilt  and  a  cathedral  was  begun  at  this,  the  1   st 
roya   settlement  in  the  country,  fortifications  were  made  and    hi 
new  town  of  Bahia  or  San  Salvador,  was  made  the  capital  of  Brazi 
Ihe  Jesuits,  with  laudable  zeal,  dispersed  themselves  amon  J  tl  e 
natives,  and  by  the  extraordinary  fi^culties  of  persuasion  and  loZ 
verance,  in  which  they  have  never  been  surpassed  by  any  order  of 
men,  mplanted  a  species  of  religion  and  civilization  ii,  their  breasts 
withstood  the  oppressions  of  the  colonists,  and  pioneered  the  wiy   o 
resh  settlement  and  colonization.     The  disinterested  and  self-I  " 
ficing  eflors  of  these  much-calumniated  men,  at  that  period    are 
worthy  of  the  highest  praise.  ^         '  ^ 

The  first  Brazilian  bishop,  appointed  in  1562,  soon  foil  into  a  dis- 
pute wi  h  Da  Costa,  the  successor  of  De  Sousa,  and  embarked  for 

ortugal  to  plead  his  case  before  the  king.  Being  shipwrecked  on  • 
the  coast  he  was  murdered,  with  about  a  hundred  oLrs  by  the 
savage  tribe  of  the  Cahetes-in  revenge  of  which  outrage  they  and 
their  posterity  were  proscribed,  and  were  hunted  and  but'ehered'till 
nearly  all  were  exterminated.  In  1558,  the  celebrated  Mem  de  Sa 
succeeded  to  the  vieeroyalty,  and  endeavoured  by  all  mearin  his 
power  to  reclaim  the  natives  from  their  barbarous  propositi  \td 
to  protect  them  from  unlawful  oppression.  The  hou'eo  '''i  h 
colonist  who  had  refused  to  release  certain  of  them,  wr Lgf  y 
en  aved,  was  levelled  to  the  ground  by  the  governor's  order  ^      ^ 

bir""S   f  "r^.^'T^'^"^  ^"«  ^Wcssion  of  eanni- 
bali  m        Three  friendly  Indians,"  says  Mr.  Southey,*  "  were  seized 
vhile  fishing,  by  their  enemies,  carried  off,  and  devoured.     The 
governor  sent  to  the  offending  tribe,  commanding  them  to  give  .'' 

*  History  of  Brazil. 


So8 


TJiK   l'Kuri.K'8   HOOK  OF  IIISTOKV 


tlio  criminiils,  that  they  might  be  put  to  death.     The  chiefa  would 
liiive  consented,   but  the  persons  implicated  were   powerful;    the 
adjoining  clans  made  a  common  cause  with  them;  two  humlred 
hordes,  who  dwelt  on  the  banks  of  the  Paraguazu,  united  in  defence 
(if  their  favourite  custom;  and  the  answer  returned  was,  that  if  tl,L. 
governor  wanted  the  offenders,  ho  must  come  and  take  them.    T\m 
ill  despite  of  the  opposition  made  by  the  settlers,  he<rc8olved  to  d,,' 
The  allied  natives  took  the  field  with  them,  with  a  Jesuit  at  tlujr 
head,  and  with  a  cross  for  a  standard.     They  found  the  enemy  well 
posted  and  in  considerable  strength,  but  they  put  them  to  fli^r),, 
After  the  battle,  it  was  discovered  that  an  arm  had  been  cut  oil"  fro,,, 
one  of  the  dead:  as  this  was  evidently  taken  by  one  of  the  idlies  to 
eat  in  secret,  proclamation  was  made  that  the  arm  must  be  laid  by  the 
body  before  the  arnxy  took  food  or  rested  after  the  battle.     The  next 
morning  the  enemy  were  pursued,  and  suffered  a  second  and  more 
severe  defeat;  after  which,  they  delivered  up  the  criminals,  and  peti- 
tioned to  be  received  as  allies  on  the  same  terms  as  the  other  tribes." 
With  all  these  successes,  much  danger  and  annoyance  was  experi- 
enced from  the  Aymores,  a  liereo  and  barbarous  tribe,  who  invaded 
several  of  the  provinces,  and  threatened  San  Salvador  itself.     " Their 
mode  of  warfare,"  says  the  author  just  quoted,  "was  as  savage  as 
their  habits  of  life;  they  had  no  chief  or  leader;  they  never  weiit  in 
large  companies;  they  never  .stood  \w  against  an  enemy  face  to  foee 
but  lay  in  wait  like  wild  beasts,  and  took  their  deadly  aim  from'tiie 
thickets.    In  one  point  they  were  greatly  inferior  to  the  other  tribes; 
for,  being  an  inland  people,  they  could  not  swim,  and  such  was 
their  ignorance  or  dread  of  the  water,  that  any  stream  which  thev 
could  not  ford  was  considered  a  sufficient  defence  against  them.    It 
may  well  be  supposed  that  such  men  would  be  impatient  of  slavery; 
some  who  were  taken  by  the  Portuguese  refused  to  eat,  and  died  by 
that  slowest  and  most  resolute  motle  of  suicide."    These  ferocious 
and  dangerous  enemie.«,  by  the  aid  of  the  native  allies,  were  finally 
repulsed;  yet,  it  is  said,  but  for  the  influence  already  acquired  by 
the  Jesuits  over  the  minds  of  the  natives,  the  Portuguese  would 
have  been  exterminated  by  the  overwhelming  number  of  their  ene- 
mies.    Mem  de  Sa,  after  an  acitive  and  successful  administration  of 
fourteen  years,  died  just  at  the  arrival  of  his  successor. 


TUK   P0BTUGUK8B   IN   AMERICA.  ggg 


CHAPTER   in. 

BRAZIL  UNDER  SPANISH   INFLUENCE  —ENO  llSil   PIRATICAL  BX- 

PBDITIONS.-ODIUM    INCURRED    i,  Y    THE    JESUITS   IN    PRO 

TKCTINO    THE    INDI  A  NS.-RE  VO  LTS,-W  A  R    WITH     THE 

NKORO    NATION.    THE    PALMARESE;    THEIR    SUBDUAL- 

O0I,D    AND     DIAMONDS.  — FRENCH    HOSTILITIES  —  ' 

DEFEAT   OF   DU   CLEHC  — ,tio  JANEIRO    TAKEN    BY 

DUOUAY  DE  TROUIN— THE  CRUEL  AND  IMPOLITIC 

EXPULSION    OP    THE    JESUITS   FROM   BRAZIL. 

j       Colonization  proceeded  so  rapidly,  that  Brazil  at  one  time  was 
divided  mto    wo  governments,  and  Bio  de  Janeiro  wa«  made  the 
j    capital  of  all  the  i)rovmce8  8outh  of  Porto  Scguro.     They  were  again 
ujnted  under  a  single   administration  in  1578,  the  year  in  which 
King  Sebastian,  with  the  flower  of  his  court  and  army,  perished  in 
bat  le  with    he  Moors.     I„  consequence  of  that  dis^trous  event 
I  or  ug.d  with  her  colonies,  for  .ixty  years,  came  under  the  plwe 
of  the  Spanish  crown.     Philip  II.  oUWed  to  the  duke  of  Braganza 
If  he  would  relinquish  his  claim  to  the  throne  of  Portugal,  the  sov- 
ercgiity  ot  Bra.il,  but  the  overture  was  rejected.     In  tonsSquonL 
ft  IS  change  of  ma.stcr.s,  Brazil  wa«  exposed  to  the  hostility  of  tho 
b.g]sh,  and  tho  freebootmg  expeditions  of  Cavendish,  Lancaster 
and  others  against  its  eo.-.ts,  resulted  in  much  loss  bv  pi  atical  spol  ! 
ation.    The  contest  with  the  Dutch,  and  their  iinaleipulsion  have 
een  already  briefly  described.     After  that  event,  Johif  IV    o'f  Por- 
ugal,  conlerred  on  his  eldest  son  the  title  of  Prince  of  Brazil-a 
title  afterwards  customarily  pertaining  to  the  heir-apparent 

Despite  the  humane  exertions  of  the  Jesuits,  the  natives  aa  the 
colonies  nicreased,  were  continually  enslaved  and  persecuted  tTll  in 
e  provinces  on  the  sea-coa.st,  they  were  nearly  exterminated,  'so 
great  was  the  enmity  incurred  by  these  intrepid  and  benevol^it 
men,  m  their  attempts  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  the  oppressed  r" 
that  an  actual  revolution  was  excited  against  the  government  whiS 
Fotceted  them.  The  Paul.U.,  a  mixed  breed  of  Portrguirand 
origme,  were  inveterate  slave-hunters  and  enemies  of  the  jLit 
that  1  n  n'T'"'";*^  -  deposing  the  governor,  who  countenanced 
that  unpopular  order.     In  1673,  a  revolt  broke  out  in  Maranhan, 


860 


TIIK  PEOl'LK'R    no  OK   OK   II  1  8  T  GUY. 


I 


headed  by  a  Pauloae,  naincd  nccikmuri.  "  Expc^l  tlio  Joauital  nbolish 
monopolicH!"  was  tlio  cry.  ^I'lio  iiiHurgeiits  Hoizod  tlio  town  and  fort 
and  hold  thorn  till  roduood  by  u  Hiijjcrior  foron  I'min  Fjisbon. 

A  (!onto«t  far  nioro  datigoronH,  about  the  chwe  of  the  oontury,  was 
waged  with  a  gront  body  of  insurgent  negroes,  in  tlio  provinee  of 
Pernambuoo.  Some  of  these  had  been  armed  in  the  contest  with 
the  Dutch,  and  had  afterwards  taken  u[)  a  strong  jiosition  in  tlio 
woods  west  of  Porto  do  Calvo,  which  all  the  fugitive  negroes  soon 
made  their  rendezvous.  "Their  numbers  soon  became  formidable. 
Like  the  fir.'^t  Romans,  tliey  were  without  women;  but  they  sup 
plied  this  want  by  descending  suddenly  on  the  plantation.s,  and  car- 
rying off  violently  every  wonum  of  colour.  They  established  equal 
laws  among  thomselvea;  they  occuj)ied  a  fertile  boundary;  their 
numbers  increased  with  astonishing  rapidity;  they  made  no  scruple 
in  plundering  the  Portuguese  settlements;  and  they  finally  consti- 
tuted a  nation  under  the  name  of  the  Palmarese  (from  the  great  palm 
forests  of  their  region).  They  formed  a  government  under  an  elector 
or  monarch,  named  Zombi.  They  siirrounded  their  chief  town  and 
villages  with  stockades,  and  managed  to  procure,  even  from  the  Por- 
tuguese planters,  abundance  of  lire  and  other  arms,  and  of  ainnuuii- 
tion.  During  a  period  of  forty  years,  they  remained  unattackcd  and 
unmolested;  but  having  increased  to  the  number  of  more  than 
twenty  thousaiul,  the  Portuguese  government  became  so  thoroughly 
impressed  with  the  forniiihible  ptnver  of  tliis  new  nation,  that  in 
!()!)(),  it  was  determined  to  extirpate  the  Palinarcsc,  at  whatever  cost 
of  money  or  of  men. 

"John  de  Lancastro,  with  an  army  of  six  thousand  men,  well 
provided  and  armed,  marched  against  the  city  of  the  Palmarosc.  The 
hitter,  unable  to  meet  the  former  in  the  field,  retired,  to  the  number 
altogether  of  about  ten  thousand,  within  the  defences  of  the  town. 
The  Portuguese  advanced,  and  laid  sieg(!  to  the  place;  but  they  were 
greatly  di.'^heartencd  on  beholding  the  f()rinidable  condition  of  the 
defoticcs;  and,  being  without  artillery,  they  were  unprepared  to 
besiege  the  town  in  regular  form.  They  were  soon  greatly  harassed 
by  murderous  sallies  from  the  town.  Whenever  the  Portuguese 
approached,  they  were  dismayed  by  a  furious  resistance  on  the  part 
of  the  negroes;  who,  not  only  with  tire-arms  and  bows  and  arrows, 
but  with  spouting  scalding  water,  galled,  and  frequently  repulsed 
their  assailants. 

"This  was  an  apparently  hopeless  siege  on  the  part  of  the  Portu- 


TH!0    I'OIJTUOUESK   IN    AMUIICA. 


801 


gucsc,  unfl  tho  unununition  of  tho  l,csi«gc.l  was   cxhaustcHl,  and 

thcr  Huppl.c.  of  provisions  wore  cut  off.     Scarcity  was  nsBurning 

ho  aspect  of  fam.no  wthm  tho  town,  and  a  strong  nii,.force,nont 

av.ng  arnvocl  ,„  aul  of  Do  Lancastro,  the  place  was  stormed  and 

aken      Jl.c  ku.g  /omb.,  and  his  chief  adherents,  resolved  not  to 

be  captured  ahve,  leaped  over  tho  high  rocky  i,reeipices  (,f  the  fort 

and  were  instantly  dM  to  death.     The  captured  inhabitants  were 

'lerica'^         ''  terminated  tho  first  negro  kingdom  in 

The  original  wealth  of  thjp  vast  province  ha.l  consisted   in  its 
■nexhanstible  supply  of  dye-woods,  and  not  long  after  its  setth.nent, 
t!>c  Jews  banished  fro.n  Portugal  by  the  Inquisition,  introduced  the 
cu  tare  of  the  sugar-cane,  ad.ling  greatly  to  the  wealth  and  resources 
ofthe  country.     Gold  was  not  discovered  until  the  close  of  the  sev- 
enteenth century,  nor  tho  abundance  of  diamonds  which  the  country 
adords,  unt,   tlurty  years  later.     Tho  former  discovery  entailed  im 
mechate  nusfortune  on  the  province,  both  in  the  check  which  it  gave 
to  a,n;.culturo  and  really  productive  industry,  and   in   the  hostile' 
cnpuhty  which  it  excited  among  foreign  powors.     In  1710,  a  French 
squadron    co,nmanded  by  I)u  Clerc.  appeared  oft"  the  ^.ast,   and 
aude,   a  th,n,sand  men  not  far  from  Hio  Janeiro,  which  hitherto  had 
been  (ree  a hke  from  domestic  sedition  and  foreign  violeiice.     By  an 
artifice  of  the  governor,  De  Castro,  the  hostile  force  was  permitted* 
to  enter  the  city  without  molestation;  but  when  they  wcie  fairly  i„ 
the  streets,  he  fell  upon  them  with  the  garrison,  kille.]  and  wounded 
a  great  nuial.er,  an.l  captured  the  rest.     The  unfortunate  Du  Clerc 
an.  most  of  his  ofTicers  were  secretly  murdered  in  prison 
lo  avenge  this  defeat  and  outrage,  private  enterprise  supplied  tho 
^    n,eans  for  a  powerful  armament,  which,  under  the  famous  Du-^uay 
^      e  Irou.n.on  the  12th  of  September,  1711,  appeared  before^iio 
•'anouu     .ie  l,,st  nearly  three  hundred  men  from  the  fire  of  the 
attenes  in  the  harbour;  but  landed  his  troops,  erected  works,  a 
demanded  of  the  governor,  who  had  entrenched  himself  in  the  city 
an  unconditional  surrender.     The  latter  refusing,  he  opened  a  0'; 
nonade  on  the  town,  in  the  midst  of  a  tremendous  stori  of  thu.Ir 
arid  hg  1  nmg,  which  combination  of  noises,  says  a  French  author 

ha    bo, t'l  "'"':;"'''  '""^'  '^-^  ^^^""°'^  '^«^^'^"'  -'•^'-.  -^'  ind 
tains,  the  1  ortugucse  troops  evacuated  their  post;  the  captives  of 
*  McGri'gotB  Pro-jresa  of  America. 


n  i 


862 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


Du  Clorc's  expedition,  who  yet  survivod,  broke  forth  from  prison 
and  the  victors  entered  tiunultuouHly,  niul  sacked  the  city.     Three- 
fourths  oftlie  buildings,  it  is  said,  were  broken  open,  and  tlieir  con- 
tents thrown  into  the  utreets,  and  'iVouin,  endeavouring  to  stay  tbe 
work  of  rapine,  caused  numbers  of  his  men  to  bo  executed,  but  in 
vain.     A  great  ransom  was  paid  to  save  tlie  town  from  conflngrution- 
and  besides  tlie  enormous  h)8s  from  pilhigo,  five  ships  of  war  and 
more  than  thirty  merchantmen  were  taken  or  burned  by  the  French. 
On  tlie  4th  of  November,  Trouin  sailed  I'rom  Kio,  inti'udingto  attack 
Bahia,  but  was  prevented  by  adverse  winds,  and  finally  returned  to 
France.     Two  of  his  ships,  with  twelve  hundred  men,  and  a  great 
tr(>a.sure,  foundered  at  sea;  yet  the  proceeds  of  what  remained,  repaid 
the  fitters-out  of  the  enterprise  with  a  profit  nearly  equal  to  tlieir 
capital.     No  ho.stilc  expedition  has-sincc  entered  the  harbour  of  Jim 
Janeiro,  which,  in  1703,  was  made  the  seat  of  government  for  Hmzil 
in  place  of  Baliia. 

After  the  emancipation  of  Portugal  from  the  control  of  Spain, 
frequent  disputes  occurred  between  the  two  nations  as  to  the  bound- 
aries of  their  respective  provinces  in  South  America.  In  1750,  the 
Portuguese  settlement  of  San  Sacramento  was  exchanged  by  treaty 
for  a  number  of  Jesuit  missionary  stations  on  the  Uraguay,  tind 
about  thirty  thousand-  converts  of  the  Guarany  tribe,  with  their 
families,  were  ordered  to  abandon  their  homes  and  remove  to  a 
strange  territory. 

The  oppressed  natives  resisted  this  arbitrary  decree,  but  after  great 
slaughter,  were  compelled  to  submit;  though  eleven  years  afterwards 
the  treaty  was  annulled,  and  the  Guaranicia  were  permitted  to  return. 
During  the  enactment  of  this  jiiece  of  oppression,  the  Jesuits  had 
stood  their  friends,  and  had  endeavoured  to  obtain  reparation  for 
their  wrong.s,  and  thus  increased  the  odium  into  which  their  order, 
for  some  time,  had  been  lapsing.  Jforeovcr,  Pombal,  the  minister 
of  Charles  III.  of  Portugal,  a  man  of  great  energ'-  ;;  'd  eagerness  for 
reform,  but  equally  short-sighfed  and  wrong-headed  in  tiic  icans  he 
adopted,  considering  this  extensive  institution  a?  •  Hiding  i'  i,hewav 
of  his  schemes  of  colonial  aggrandizement,  took  the  rash,  unjust,  and 
impolitic  resolution  of  expelling  from  Brazil  a  class  of  men  to  whom, 
more  than  to  any  other,  it  was  indebted  for  safety  in  the  time  of  its 
weakness,  for  friendly  ir '  "course  with  vast  tribes  of  the  aborigines,  and 
fv. '  tlio  extension  of  civii  ition  and  Christianity  among  them.  (1760.) 
^'is  br,)Lher  P'iutado,  a  man  of  similar  stamp,  accomplisiied  tbe 


r" 


THKP0BTU0UE8E   IN   AMEKICA. 


868 

work  with  much  severity  an.l  cruelty.  All  the  churches  colle«.c« 
ou...  and  other  property  of  the  pn^cribcd  order,  wen^  1,  Sed 
to  the  u.se  o.  the  crow,,  and  great  harshness  wa.s  u^ed  in  tLe  W 
men  o(  th.s  v.oIcnt  nu.«„ure.  The  unfortu,.ato  eccIcHiu«tiea  oiled 
and  transported  to  Europ.,  ahno«t  like  victims  in  the  hold  oTkZe 
«lMp  were  thrown  u.to  prison  at  Lisbon  (where  the  survivors  Ian- 
,M  for  e.ghteen  years,  till  the  death  of  the  king  and  1  e  fid  of 
Pun  d,  or  were  landed  in  Italy  without  means  ofsuppor  Tld 
true!  uikI  impolitic  measure,  it  is  said  tend...]  irrfotlv  ♦«  J    u  \ 

0,  .»  arbitrary  „.i„i..er,  i„clu.li„g  „„prc»ivc  m„„„p:^  ^^    ^ 
on  the  col„,„«^  rc8„lte,I  in  .imilar  ovil  ami  docadonco 

During  il,„  l„„,r  part  „1  tl,„  cigl.tconth  .K,„tury;„„  event,  of 
tnatcna  „n,,ortanee  oc'cnrrod  i„  Brazil,  ..,„,,t  tiJ\r^,Z     r\u 

^  ui  uic  uuaranies     those  tribes,  wearv  of  tli« 
tyranny  and  cruelty  of  their  new  masters,  welcomed  t2  firm 
oppressors,  the  Portuguese,  as  liberators;  and  the  disputed   erirv 
mis  agam  acquired  by  the  latter.  ^         territory 


CHAPTER   17. 

fHE     CARTA   RhOIA."— BRAZIL  0  P  R  N  E  D  TO  FOREIOV  TRADE 

I)O.M   JOIIX    vr.  — CORRUPTION    A  NI),  D  ISCO  NT  F  V  T  — 
INSURRKCTIOXS.-.KTURN  OP  THE  KINO  TO  P^      ,7 
OAL.-TYRANNY  OP  THE  PORTUGUESE  CORTES- 
IRRITATION  OP  THE  BRAZILIANS.— RESISTAN-K 
OF  DOM  PEDRO  AND  HIS  CAPITAL.        "' 

realv,  but  witl,  ,,i„  greater^  „a  tm  "l"'""'^"'  '"'''• 

province,  of  America,  were  „o.  ^i^^tlt!:  ZZ:rZ7:l 


864 


THK   rKOI'I.K'S    BOOK    OK    HlSTOliY 


5 


[*Ji2iM^^Al. 


colony  of  Brazil — a  colony  wliicli,  l)y  cionsoqncnico  of  tliosn  events 
Av:iH  di'sliiii'd  liniilly  to  erection  into  an  indejKiiHlent  empire,  vyin/r 
in  its  extent  and  natural  resources,  with  the  greatest  and  most  pow- 
erful states  on  tlie  globe.  VVlien,  on  tlic  29tli  of  November,  1807 
the  van  of  the  Kreneh  army,  under  the  headlong  Junot,  aj)pearc(l 
on  the  heights  alH)ve  Lisbon,  the  })riMcc-regent,  with  the  rest  of  tlio 
royal  family,  hurriedly  emliurked  on  board  a  Mritisii  and  Portn-nicso 
fleet,  taking  all  the  valuables  they  could  hastily  seize;  and  with  a 
great  crowd  of  nobles  and  other  adh<'reiits,  put  to  sea,  and  steered 
for  their  distant  province  ol'  Wnv/M.  On  the  28th  of  January,  1808 
they  landed  amid  enthusiastic  n^joielng,  at  Bahia,  where  tlie  prince 
granted  the  celebrated  "Carta  Regia,"  by  whic'  ''  »  ports  of  Brazil 
were  opened  to  foreign  commeree;  and  tiiiis,  in  the  .anguage  of  the 
ollieial  liistorian  of  Brazil,  "by  that  immortal  diploma  conferred  an 
inestimable  inheritance  on  tliis  terrestrial  paradise,  where  llourish 
the  crowned  heads  of  the  veget;d>!e  world ;  trees  that  blossom  from 
the  truidc  to  the  vertex;  health-giving  plants,  that  banish  death  to 
a  remote  old  age;  and,  besides  a  thousand  other  equivalents  for  the 
riches  of  the  globe,  those  [)rincely  fruits  which  the  j)octs  and  enthu- 
siasts of  natural  history  have  named  ambrosia — food  for  the  "-ods" 
&c.,  <fcc.     In  the  March  following,  he  proceeded  to  Rio  Janeiro. 

This  famous  edict  was  the  signal  for  an  eager  revival  of  coniriierce 
and  no  less  than  ninety  foreign  ships,  ehiedy  British,  in  the  following 
year,  came  into  the  last-named  port,  entrance  to  which  (as  to  ail 
others)  had  heretofore  been  interdicted  in  the  severest  manner. 
Civilization  and  improvement  followed  in  the  train  of  free  inferconrsc 
and  Brazil,  so  long  noted,  even  among  Soutli  American  colonies,  for 
the  slavish  ignorance  of  its  people,  began  to  take  some  steps  in  a 
forward  direction.  In  1815,  it  was  erecte<l  into  a  kingdom  by  the 
royal  family  who  had  there  found  refuge,  and  on  the  olh  of  Fehrnnrv 
1818,  Dom  John  VI.  was  crowned  as  king  of  the  uiuted  kingdom  of 
Portugal,  Algarves,  and  Brazil.  This  event,  though  consideivd  by 
the  people  as  an  extraordin:;,T  honour  and  advantage,  was  injurious 
to  the  national  character  by  exciting  an  insane  desire  for  titles  ami 
honours,  (which  soon,  by  excessive  multiplication,  lost  their  value,) 
and  by  introducing  all  tlu>  corruptions  of  a  Kuropean  court.  Tlio 
inhabitants,  at  llrst  so  enthusiastically  loya!  as  to  have  placed  their 
lands,  houses,  and  money  at  the  disposal  of  the  royal  suite,  gradually 
lapsed  into  discontent  at  the  gross  misgovernmcnt  of  the  favoured 
ollk'iids.     About  this  time,  the  warfare  already  mentioned  in  the  last 


TlIK   I'OlJTUOUEaK   IN   AMKIUCA. 


865 


article  was  earned  on  against  Artigas  of  tbc  Batula  Oriental  and 
against  the  republicans  of  l.a  Plata.     In  1809,  Portuguese  Guiana, 
winch  in  1«02,  by  the  treaty  of  Amiens,  had  been  ceded  to  1^'ranco 
was  recovered,  by  the  assistance  of  the  Knglish.  ' 

Insurrections  broke  out,  in  1817,  in  Pernambuco  and  Bahia,  and 
after  much  bloodshed,  the  whole  country  appearing  on  the  verge  of 
rov(;lulion,  the  king,  in  1821,  appointed  a  commission  to  inquire  into 
the  expediency  of  extending  the  Portuguese  constitution  to  tlu;  Bra- 
zilian government;  and  soon  after,  the  prince,  Doin  Pedro,  read  to 
the  people  of  the  capital  a  royal  proclamation,  assuring  them  oi'  the 
gruiit  of  such  a  constitution  as  should  be  ibrmed  by  the  Cortes  (jf 
Lisbon.  In  the  same  year,  the  king,  by  invitation  from  that  body, 
to  preserve  the  integrity  of  his  dominions,  leaving  his  eldest  son,  iJoni 
J'cdio,  as  regent  of  Bn.zi],  visited  the  mother-country,  when;  the 
people  were  impatient  at  his  protracted  absence.  Brazilian  deputies 
were  also  summoned  to  attend  the  Cortes;  but  before  they  arrived, 
that  assembly,  with  insane  tyranny,  had  resolved  on  the  revival  of 
the  ancient  colonial  system  in  its  worst  form  of  dependence,  monoi)- 
oly,  and  exclusion  of  foreign  tralTic, 

The  prince,  who,  on  assuming  the  regency,  was  only  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  in  despite  of  his  earnest  attempts  to  reform  the  govern- 
ment, and  the  rigid  self-denial  which  he  practised,  soon  found  his 
authority  set  at  naught  by  the  provinces,  and  was  reduced  to  a  con- 
dition little  better  than  that  of  governor  of  Rio  Janeiro.  Thwarted 
oil  every  side,  and,  despairing  of  .success,  he  had  entreated  to  be  re- 
called  to  Europe,  when,  "at  length,"  it  is  said,  "the  Brazilians  were 
disarmed  by  this  noble  conduct;  they  recognized  his  activity,  his 
henelicenec,  his  assiduity  in  the  affairs  of  government;  and  the 
habitual  feelings  of  affection  and  resi)ect  for  the  House  of  Bniganza^ 
which  for  a  moment  had  been  laid  asleep  by  distrust,  were  r.^u- 
wakencd  with  increased  strength.  'J'o  these  was  joined  an  alnH.-t 
idolatroussentimcntofattachmentfor  the  virtues  and  the  splendid 
as  well  as  amiable  qualities  of  the  young  areliduehess,  Leopoldiii;., 
the  daughter  of  the  emperor  of  Austria,  and  the  beloved  wife  of  the 
regent." 

The  king,  on  his  arrival  in  Portugal,  was  in  a  manner  compellcl 
to  sanction  the  illiberal  views  of  the  Cortes  concerning  Brazil.  'J'he 
consequence  was  renewed  disaffection  to  the  parent-country,  and  in 
1821,  an  attempt  was  made  at  Bio  to  proclaim  tlic  regent  emperor; 
but  this  was  promptly  suppressed,  the  country  in  general  bcHi.g  un- 


8Q6 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


prepared  for  a  step  so  decided.     Two  months  afterwards  (December 
10th)  arrived  a  rash  and  oppressive  decree  of  the  Cortes,  reinstating 
the  old  abuses,  denationalizing  Brazil,  and  recalling  the  prince,  with 
orders  to  travel  incoijnlto  in  Europe.     The  utmost  irritation  was  ex- 
cited by  the  receipt  of  these  tidings,  and  several  provinces  presented 
strong  remonstrances  to  the  prince  against  obedience,  the  municipnl- 
ity  of  Eio  declaring,  in  their  address,  "The  departure  of  your  lioynl 
Highness  from  the  states  of  Brazil  will  be  the  decree  that  will  seal 
for  ever  the  independence  of  this  kingdom,"  implying  the  determin- 
ation, in  that  event,  to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  Portugal.     The  prince 
seeing  the  condition  of  affairs,  and  consulting  his  own  interests  n.s 
well  as  those  of  the  kingdom,  decided  to  remain— a  decision  which 
filled  the  people  with  enthusiastic  joy.     (.January  9th,  1822.)    A 
battle  between  the  Portuguese  troops  and  the  citizens  was  only  pre- 
vented by  the  retreat  of  the  former,  who,  however,  waiting  for  rein- 
forcements from  home,  took  up  a  hostile  position  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  bay.     Surrounded  by  the  forces  of  the  prince,  who  man- 
aged the  affiiir  in  person,  they  were  presently  compelled  to  embark 
for  Europe;  and  a  force  of  eighteen  hundred  men,  which  immedi- 
ately afterwards  appeared  on  the  coast,  dispatched  to  bring  back 
Dom  Pedro,  was  forthwith  ordered  home  again,  without  even  beino^ 
permitted  to  land.  ° 


CHAPTER?, 

IMPOTENT  DEMONSTRATION  OP   THE   PORTUOUESE  ffOVERNMENT.— 
DOM    PEDRO    PROCLAIMED     PROTECTOR,  —  INDEPENDENCE   OF 

BRAZIL    DECLARED. PEDRO    PROCLAIMED    EMPEROR.— 

RETREAT   OF   THE   PORTUGUESE   TROOPS,  —  DIFFICULTIES 

WITH    THE    DEMOCRACY, INSURRECTION    UNDER   CAR- 

VALHO   SUPPRESSED. POPULAR    REVOLUTION    AT 

RIO. ABDICATION    OF    DOM    PEDRO,     AND    HIS 

RETREAT    TO    PORTUGAL. 

Alakmed  too  late  by  the  determined  attitude  of  the  injured  prov- 
ince, the  Portuguese  govertinient  began  to  witlidraw  'its  otlensive 
measures,  but  in  vain.  Many  of  the  captaincies  gave  in  their  adhe- 
sion to  the  revolutionary  cau.se,  and  all  the  southern  departments, 


THE   PORTUGUESE   IN   AMERICA.  gg^ 

forming  a  majority  of  the  wl.ole,  assumed  the  title  of  "The  Allied 
,       rovmces."     On  the    13lh  of  May,    1822,  at  Rio  Janeiro    i^'^ 

Pedro  was  proclam.ed  by  the  people.  "  Perpetual  Protecto  of  B         " 

as  an  hereditary  title;  and  whereas  they  would  formerly  have  been 
j     .atKsiaed  with  free  trade  and  a  moderate  share  of  representative  and 

domestic  nght  of  government,  they  now  resolved  on  havir.g  I  se,    ! 

rate  legislature,  and  no  union  with  Portugal,  except  that  afforded 
I     1^.^  ^''77"-       n  -1%  to  the  assertion  of  these  rights,  the  Cor^s 
I     ,n  September,  fulminated  a  sounding  decree  against  all  concerned  in 

he  new  order  of    hings;  nevertheless,  a  general  assembly,  convok  d 
j     by  tl,e  prince,  met  in  the  following  year,  and  transformed  lie  rde  icy 

nitoun  imperial  government;  and  the  authority  of  the  prinet'^ 

implicitly  obeyed  on  all  hands.  ^ 

A  squadron  from  PortU"-a]   with  nil  th^  +„^  ■,  ■  ^     , 

.     '■      ,,  °''  ^^""  "''  t"e  troops  which  that  feeble 

nation  could  muster,  arrived  at  Bahia,  and  occupied  the  town    bu 
so  complete  was  the  popular  disaffection  to  the  old  rule   that  the 
aut lioiity  of  the  c.nimander,  Madeira,  was  not  extendedtyord 
hnnt  of  the  waHs.     A   resh  angry  and  impotent  decree  of  tlfe  Corte 
now  menaced  Dom  Pedro  with  exclusion  from  the  throne,  and  p  o 
claimed  a  paper  blockade  of  the  whole  Brazilian  coast.     The  pri     e 
on  b.s  part,  by  manifesto,  accused  the  Cortes  of  tyranny  and  LZ' 
t,on  an    lormally  proclaiined  to  foreign  n.UoJt^jX^^^e 
of  Brazil-dec  anng,  however,  that  he  regarded  the  durance  m  w    ch 
his  august  father  was  held  in  Portugal,  as  only  temporarily    u" 
pendmg  his  authority,  and  expressing  his  hope  (hat  a  sin-de  mon- 
archy would  yet  unite  the  two  nations.'    (August  6th,  1822  ) 

lie  popular  mind  appearing  ripe  for  such  a  measm-e  the  muni 
cpal  senate  of  Kio  declared  that,  on  the  12th  of  o'ctober  e 
pnnee  wonl,l  be  formally  proclaimed  as  constitutional  emperor-  \^ 
accordingly,  on  that  day,  in  a  number  of  the  provinces  h  s  acc'es  ll; 

-uaui  to  dcfbnd  th  J  J^^.^i:tt^z^:;;^:::^^  ';: 

hould  be  worthy  of  Brazil  and  of  him.     No  increase  of  po    e    o 
revenue  attended  this  elevation  to  the  imperial  dignitv        kfo  ,h 
with  summoned  a  constituent  a.ssembly,  to  meet  "t  Ko  ,    ^^^'''^• 
the  3d  of  \f..v  nQOs  \  ii  •  ^  ^^"^  Jeneiro  on 

try  by  Cabraf  ^         '^         -""^versary  of  the  discovery  of  the  coun- 

Meanwhile,  the   Portuguese  force  at  Bahia  was  surrounded  bv 
twenty  thousand  Brazilian  troops,  ami  the  oilicer.  a..i,:^of:'^^ 


368 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTOEY. 


I 


i 


from  the  country.  Accordingly,  having  pillaged  the  city,  and  strip- 
ped  the  churches  of  their  gold  and  silver  ornanaents,  the  whole  com- 
nuind,  on  the  2d  of  July,  embarked  on  board  of  eighty  vessels  and 
set  sail.  Owing  to  the  width  of  the  bay,  and  the  favourable  wind 
the  Brazilian  fleet,  of  sixty  ships,  under  Lord  Cochrane,  was  unable  to 
intercept  them,  though  sailing  in  pursuit,  it  captured  several  vessels. 
The  imperial  army  entered  the  city  and  proclaimed  Dom  Pedro. 

The  government,  installed  with  such  general  satisfaction,  was  not 
long  in  encountering  difficulties  from  the  more  democratic  element 
in  Brazilian  politics;  and  the  absolute  veto,  the  strongest  safc"-uard 
of  the  imperial  power,  was  refused  by  a  majority  of  the  assembly. 
The  emperor,  in  reply,  declared  his  intention  of  practically  enforcino' 
the  disputed  point,  and  issued  a  proclamation,  avowi:ig  his  abhor- 
rence of  despotism,  whether  that  of  one  or  of  many.  This  position 
of  the  new  sovereign  was  sustained  by  the  army,  the  navy,  and  a 
majority  of  the  people.  In  November,  debate  in  the  assembly  be- 
came so  stormy,  and,  it  was  declared,  showed  such  tendencies  to 
anarchy,  that  a  body  of  troops  was  dispatched  by  the  government 
to  dissolve  the  sitting  by  violence.  This  was  done,  and  several  of 
the  members  were  arrested,  while  Uom  Pedro,  in  the  midst  of  general 
acclamation,  rode  through  the  city.  He  published  a  proclamation 
promising  to  provide  a  constitution  worthy  of  the  nation  and  of 
himself.  The  draft  of  such  an  instrument  was  circulated  through 
the  empire,  and  a  legislative  assembly  was  snmrnoned. 

In  Pernambuco,  the  revolutionary  spirit  assumed  a  more  formida- 
ble aspect.  A  j)lan  to  erect  a  republican  government  there,  with  a 
young  man,  named  Carvallio  Paes,  as  president,  was  toinporarily 
su[ipressed  by  the  imperial  forces;  but  the  troops,  revolting,  rein- 
stated him  in  the  office,  and  for  a  time  his  administration  paid  an 
assumed  deference  to  the  imperial  government.  But,  'takin<»'  advan- 
tage of  a  proclamation  of  the  emperor's,  that  he  was  unable  to  guard 
the  const  against  Portugal,  the  president  and  his  partisans  proclaimed 
the  latter  a  traitor  leagued  with  the  Portuguese,  and  called  on  the 
provinces  of  the  north  to  form  a  republic,  to  be  entitled  "The  Con- 
federation of  the  Equator."  Many  gave  in  their  adhenjnco  to  this 
scheme,  but  the  movement  was  not  general,  and  a  partisan  warfare 
was  commenced  by  the  republican  and  imperial  factions.  To  snp- 
press  this  revolt,  a  squadron,  under  Lord  Cochrane,  cirrying  twelve 
hundred  men,  commanded  by  Dt3  Lima,  was  dispatched  to  the  dis- 
tracted district.     The  undisciplined  forces  of  the  republicans  were 


TIIKPOKTU.UrrcSE    IN   AMERICA 
•11,  •         *>^^ 

vanqu.sl.ed,  and  Carvalho  was  compelled  to  fl^n  f 

the  country.  "'npeiiea  to  flee,  for  a  time,  from 

!  On  the  24th  of  Octol-ipr  l  «o  i   ♦!, 

'  stitutional  charter,  t     k  oa  h^^  ^ 

'  sworn  to  throughout  tL  en,  rP  ^^i'%/^'''^^  '''  ^"^   ^'  ^^-^ 

:  government.     Dur"!  his  S  "  "        '^'"'^^  ^'^"^^"'^"^  ^'  ^^c 
ten  years,  Brazil  made  t  e^^^^^^^^       ""'^'''''  ^'^''^•^  ^"«^«^  ^^^  about 

'  haa  done  during  threCd'ar'"  '.""T^  "^"■^'^^'^  ^'-^  ^t 

^  "eglectingtoeofciliatep;:,!"^^^^^^                                B«t  f.-om 

j  ciently  with  the  BraziliL'^atlot   •  Jf^.^^  J^^  {'X-''  ''""''^"^• 

.ative  jealousy  of  foreigninflueneebcameTl^^  ^T"'  ^"^  ^ 
On  the  6th  of  April,  1831  the  veoZnJl  ^V  ^'"'''^"^  ^^«'t«^- 
den.a..ded  the  dL  ssal  of  ceS  minw"  T''  "^^"^'«^''  ^^ 
appointed  to  office,  and  the  r   .  1^^^^^^^^^^^  '"^^  '^-'  -vvly 

During  the  whole  day  this  civic  tumi  :  ^^^^^^^^^^  '^'-^^^^'- 

obstinately  refused  compliance  with  f  I..  ,™'   but  the  emperor 

:    every  thi4>  the  peopirhe'bS^^  "^^'"^^ 

:       This  speech,  repoJted  to  the  meeting    LTeW    "  ''T'" 
t,on  and  the  troops  began  to  side  with^ile  pe",  e      Tl'' ""'"^^  '^^''" 
battalion,"  and  the  imperial  ^uard  nf  1         ^    ^  ''^  "emperor's 

,    and  the  multitude  wat  iid^y    ;p  S" ::;\r::'  ^t  ^''  ^""^^^' 
I    racks.     "The  emperor,  in  thes'e  tryh      J^'n  s  "?  ^'^  ^'^'- 

evinced  a  dignity  and  magnanimity  unknown    n    I  "l     "^  ''^^^ 
prosperity.     On  the  one  hand    the  em  1"  ^''^"  °^  ^''^ 

a...i  aiy^hending  the  most  ^^'0^^,^  Til  "'  T'""'^ 

envoy  from  the  combined  assemblage  of  r^oils  nn  1  '""'  "" 
"rg.ng  him  to  a  final  answer.  Sesert  d  hT  -^'"P"''''  "''^^ 
fatigued  beyond  measure,  he  at  length  foudTn'  '""''"''  ^'^"'^ 
to  circumstances."     At  t  vo  o'clock  in  t  ''''"'^  '"  ^''^'^ 

announcing  his  intention  to  hi  mini  rs  heTo':r°'  ^^"""^  ^^^^" 
fe.  words  as  possible,  abdicated  the  hrone  in  f  '  ^'"V:"^''  '"  ^" 
^on,  Dom  Pedro  de  Alcantara.  "I  er  "Ts  dT";,'"  '"'^  '"'"'' 
"is  niy  abdication.  May  you  be  hnl'v!  T  f  n  '  "'"•"'^"^' 
and  leave  the  country  that  I  hZ  ^i  I  ^'"  '^^''^  ''^  ^"'•«P''- 
Having  uttered  thel'wo  ds  uZ  tiln:  7'  ""!  '''^^  '  ''''  '--" 
-'  -^^^er  arranging  his  doVesr  atrf ^thl'^  "''"'  ""^  ^^■•"■■^' 
eldest  daughter,  went  aboard  an  Fn       u  ""^"'^''^  ''"'^'  '"-^       I 

the  harbour.  Soon  f'erh"  Return  frV''""'"''^'''  "^'''"•'^  ^'^.>'  - 
a-tance,  he  succeeded  'nt^l'to^  hT  :''"^'  ^'^^  ^'"'^''^'^ 
the  crown  of  Portugal.  ^  '  ^'^^'^'''■'  ^^«"^  ^^'S-^el.        j 

Vol.  ni._24 


1 


u 


870  THE   I'KOPLK'S   BOOK   OF  II18T0HY. 


CilAPTEE  ?L 

THK    CUII.l)    DOM     I'KDRO    II. — THE    TRIPLE    RKOKNCY.: — THE 

RKOKNCY    01''    I'KIJO:    01'    LIMA. FRK8H     RKVOLUTION. — THK 

ilAJORITY    01''   TIIK    K.MI'KUOR    P  U  00  1,  A  I  M  K  1). POPULAR 

T  R  0  i:H  I,  K  S    KKNUWKl);     1)  1  S  A  8T  RO  U  S    RESU  I,  T. — THK 

ROY  A  I,     MARRIAOKa. — C  A  P  A  HI  I,  I  T 1  K8     AND 

NKOKSSITlKa    OF     BRAZIL. 

Tn  tlie  Ciimpo  (1(1  Smitii  Anna,  where  the  popular  aascmhly  was 
still  ill  full  iii^italioii,  the  news  of  the  abdieiitioii  was  received  with 
onthusiastic  joy,  ami  with  slioutH  of  "Long  live  Doin  Pedro  11. |" 
and  the  little  priuee,  (only  six  years  old,)  in  whose  favour  the  instru- 
iiieiit  had  been  drawn,  was  borne  in  triumph  through  the  city,  and 
reeeived  iin  enthusiastie  aeelaination  us  (Muperor.  On  the  !)tli  of 
7\|iril,  a  grand  court-day  was  held  for  the  little  sovereign,  Dom 
Pedro  ir.,  whoso  aeeessiun  was  celebrated  with  much  display  and 
appearance  of  loyalty.  A  provisional  iTgeney,  on  the  morning  of 
the  abdication,  had  IxHin  provided  by  the  d(>puties  and  senator.'^,  with 
the  late  ministers  of  8tat(>,  and  on  the  17th,  the  general  as,seiiibly 
elected,  as  a  permanent  regency,  Lima,  Costa  Carvalho,  and  Joao 
^luni/.  These  iinportMUt  political  changes  were  ell'eetcd  with  re- 
markable order  and  traniidillily.  In  18.'}4,  liow(n'er,  a  law  whs 
jiassed,  vesting  the  regency  in  the  hands  of  a  single  jHU-son,  to  be 
elcctinl  for  four  years;  and  Diogo  Keijo,  a  bishop  and  a  senator, 
accordingly,  on  the  I'Jth  of  October,  1885,  was  installed  as  sold 
regent.  His  administration  was  troubled  with  insurrections  in  Per- 
uambueo,  Kio  (irande,  and  l^ira — the  pnvsident  of  the  latter  pliice 
ln>ing  a.^sa.s.-iinated,  and  the  Portuguese  then;  indi.seriininatclv  iinir- 
dered.  The  assembly  was  slow  in  supporting  iiis  aulhoritv,  and, 
disheartened  by  these  obstacles,  in  September,  l.SoT,  he  resigiunl  the 
regency.  In  October  of  the  following  year,  Pedro  ijim;i,  already,  by 
a  clause  of  the  constitution,  jirovisionally  regent,  was  contirincd  in 
that  olhee  by  election. 

Weary  of  his  authority,  a  party  of  the  as.sembly,  in  July,  1840, 
began  to  agitate  the  (piestion  of  declaring  the  young  emperor  of  age, 
and  eonimitting  the  imperial  aulhorify  into  his  own  hands.  Furious 
debate  and  great  agitation  ensued,  and  the  citizens,  eager,  iis  usual, 


XlIEPOKTUOUKSKlNAMEinCA.  g^^ 

.lc|.utics,  in  joint  »u»«i„„  „„„„;„,,?''  ""''  "'«  «"•■"<>  "nJ 
p. 'or,  a„a  obtain  l.ij  »:'  "  ."f "'™'','.''™  '°  -"'  «"  '1-  cm- 
.1.  i...cn«c  delight  and  c"  .  l^:;  2"f ""«  IJ^'^-'ion.  To 
»,*rcd  tl,o  roKont  to-rovoh  tL  V        '^"''  °'  ''°  '=°»»™'»1,  and 

The  next  moriiin''   (July  9?,(]    ift4n\  ^u 
roundel  by  an  assona  lie  of  dl  !!  1^     .!  ^enatcl.onsc  wa.s  sur- 

:    shouts  of  the  multitude  without  .^t'?i  .1  """'•  *'"  "PProvir.g 

:  boyon.1  bounds,  and  continual  W  ^  It  t    «     ^'u "  '"r"""'' 

I  before  the  two  houses  to  sunr.ort    \  J  ^^"^  *""'^'  '^=^»'' 

i  religion,  and  a  Vro^aZTC ':7T''''-  ^'1  ^^^^  ^^^'''^^*« 

'  TI.0  city  was  brilliantly  iUumU  Id     nd  1  "  "'""'^'  ^'''  ^^««^''^«'""- 

'  festivity  prevailed,     in  this  sW^         "^'  ^'^^'^test  rej.ieing  and 

,  -.  w.  a  youth  or  1,..^':!:  i^'7z::fi:7^' '-'- 

:    throne  of  J}ra;5il.     His  coronntl.u,  ^'^-v.ited  to  the  irnpenul 

"»;;,.*»•»-,  in.,n!;\ar::::i;r;:r'"'"^  -'* «-'  .»■".■ 

•imml  liv  the  trc-iti„„nt  ";"."'•"""••    ^  «>'»"g«  "I  miiiiateia  („„„. 

■  Uo  revolt,  oecurrecl,  and  i„  i  "    it  !  ,     ,"  ^"'"""^- '' "■'""'- 

-7  co„ce„ed,  a  i^e^Lt'     i    ^^  ,,''  '::,f  ,"  7°"*""" 
"illiiig  on  tlie  Lcoiile  ",„  f,™  .1     °  '  ■"  "'°  8'reot  corners, 

-  .;»  o„„.,.itnti„'n  flrTe  Ll"  „  LS  'I;  "'^  "'™- 
'«!  a  inoclaniation,  si.mod  hv  the  ,.„  .  ,  '"""■'"■■»■ 
llio  l.a«  Ao„|,l  ,,„  n,  i„Li  e,  ^t  '  I      '    7'     '",  "'"  ""'"■"""'■J'  "'' 

-  --«  on  .,,ie,„n,  and  Lanthed 'SSl  "  Th:aX' 


v& 


^ 


l( 

8. 


h 


-?  14", 


If 


372 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


ity  of  the  government  was  at  last  reasserted,  but  with  the  loss  of 
many  lives,  and  great  daniage  to  the  public  credit  and  revenue. 

In  1842,  a  contract  of  marriage  had  been  made  between  the  young 
emperor  and  the  Princess  Theresa,  sister  of  the  king  of  the  two 
Sicilies,  and  on  the  3d  of  September  of  the  following  year,  a  Brazilian 
squadron  brought  her  to  Kio  Janeiro.  In  the  spring  preceding  tliis 
last  event,  the  Prince  de  Joinville,  arriving  in  command  of  a  French 
squadron,  had  married  and  taken  to  Europe  the  Princess  Francisca, 
sister  of  the  emperor.  The  next  year,  the  Princess  Januaria,  another 
sister,  was  married  to  the  count  of  Aquila,  brother  of  the  empress;  the 
imperial  house  of  Brazil  thus  being  strengthened,  as  it  was  consid- 
ered, by  three  alliances,  within  a  year,  with  the  royal  famihes  of 
Europe. 

"  There  is  no  part  of  the  habitable  globe,"  says  Mr.  McGregor,* 
"which  possesses  a  greater  variety  of,  or  more  splendidly  munificent 
resources  than  the  empire  of  Brazil — an  empire  in  its  area  as  large 
as  seventy-seven  kingdoms  of  the  same  area  with  Portugal,  and 
nearly  as  extensive  as  all  Europe.  If  we  estimate  its  soil,  climate 
and  water-courses,  Brazil  appears  capable  of  being  rendered,  proba- 
bly three-fold,  more  productive  than  all  the  regions  from  tlie  Atlan- 
tic to  the  Oural  mountains,  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  Arctic 
This  empire,  however,  does  not  possess  in  its  population  (which 


sea. 


is  little,  if  any,  more  in  number  than  the  inhabitants  of  Belgium)  the 
power  of  becoming  great,  wealthy,  or  powerful,  for  a  long  period  to 
come;  unless  every  facility  and  security  be  afforded  to  the  immigra- 
tion of  industrious  Europeans,  or  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
of  North  America; — unless  the  utmost  security  is  guaranteed  to  per- 
son and  property; — unless  the  prejudices  against  the  persons  and  the 
religion  of  foreigners  be  forgotten; — unless  the  bigoted  attachment 
of  the  Brazilians  for  hereditary  customs,  and  for  a  make-shift  system 
of  agriculture  and  handicraft-trades,  be  supplanted  by  intelligence, 
industry,  and  enterprise; — and  unless  the  trade  and  navigation, of 
every  part  and  port  of  Brazil  is  relieved  from  restrictive  commercinl 
laws,  and  from  high  duties  on  commodities.  Then,  and  not  till 
then,  can  they  advance  in  that  path  of  wealth,  greatness,  and  power, 
of  which  they  have  so  marvellous  an  example  in  Anglo-Saxon 
North  America." 

*  "Progress  of  America" — an  able  .ind  elaborate  work  of  American  statistics,  to 
which  the  writer,  in  preparing  this  article,  has  been  chielly  indebted. 


PART  IV. 


^t  iutti  ill  gmmra. 


THE  NEW  lETHERLAIDS 


CHAPTEH  I. 

CAPTAIN  HENRY   HFDS0N.-HI8  VOYAGES   IN    SEARCH    OP    A 

NORTHERLY  PASSAGE  TO  C  HIN  A,-EMPLO  YEI,  R.      II     ^    CH 

EAST  INDIA   C0MPANY.-SAIL8    IN    THE    HALF-'  OON- 

CRUISES  ALONG  THE  AMERICAN  COAST  IN   SEARcH    OF 

A  north-west  passage  -discovers  and  ascend 

THEHUDSONRIVER.-DEALINGSWITHTHEINDIANS. 

The  arduous  endeavours  of  Holland  to  gain  a  footing,  in  the 
wealthy  reg.ons  of  Brazil,  her  protracted  struggle  with  1^41  and 
Spa,n,  and  the  final  expulsion  of  her  eolonil^  fi-om  the  drsputed 

-ntory,  have  been  described  in  the  preceding  article.  He  Ce 
P  acefu  and  successful  enterprise  of  planting  a°colony  on  the  sho" 

f  North  America,  and  her  brief  tenure   of  the   most  vau.be 

1  nnrfi     1  °  ^  "^"^y-     "'-''  attempts  to  reach  India  bv 

1  0  :,t  r''^'  T''''''^  ^'^  insignificance  of  his  mean  are 
^  ZZu'f'''T  "'"^^'-^i-t  exploits  in  the  way  of'dis- 
^"3  that  ],ave  ever  been  undertaken.     On  the  1st  of  m/ 


lay,  1607, 


?l 


i 


f 
i, 

r 

;  1 
I  1 


1 1 


874 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  HISTOUV, 


being  employed,  as  lio  sjvys,  "by  certaine  worshipfall  uuirehants  of 
Tiondon  for  to  discover  u  piissiige  by  the  North  Polo  to  -Inpaii  aiul 
Ciiiiia,"  with  only  ten  men  and  his  little  Hon,  ho  sailed  in  a  small 
vesHol  from  Graveaend.  On  the  13th  of  .luno,  ho  made  the  const  of 
Greenland,  which  he  explored  for  aconsidoral)lo  di.stanco,  and  thence 
proceeded  to  Spitzbcrgen,  where,  in  seventy-eight  degrees  north  lat- 
itude, entangled  among  huge  masses  of  ice,  for  a  long  time,  ho  vainly' 
endeavoured  to  Ibrce  his  way  northward.  Ho  attained  a  latitude  of 
eighty-two  degrees,  surjiassing  any  one  who  had  preceded  hini,  and 
rivalling  the  most  successful  expeditions  of  modern  times.  Finding 
it  impossible  to  proceed  in  the  desired  direction,  he  made  an  equally 
futile  attemjjt  to  pass  to  the  north  of  Greenland,  and  in  September 
returned  to  the  Thames.  In  the  following  year,  with  a  like  slender 
company,  on  the  22d  of  April,  he  renewed  the  attempt,  trying  to 
pass  to  the  north  of  Nova  Zembla;  but  after  displaying  much  forti- 
tude and  perseverance,  was  comj)clled  to  relinquish  the  design,  and 
at  the  close  of  summer  to  return  to  England.  The  "worsliipfnH 
merchants,"  discouraged  by  these  failures,  refused  to  fit  out  any  more 
ex{)editions,  even  of  the  insufficient  kind  they  had  already  vouchsafed 
to  him. 

Undismayed  either  by  disappointment  or  neglect,  "the  bold  Enf^. 
lishman,"  (as  he  was  called,)  betook  himself  to  Holland,  where  his 
reputation  had  preceded  him,  and  sought  employment  from  tlio 
Dutch  East  India  Company.  That  ambitious  corporation,  ea"-er  to 
extend  its  traffic  and  gain  a  footing  in  the  east,  furnished  liiin  with 
a  little  vessel,  called  the  Ilalf-Afoon,  and  a  crew  of  twenty  men,  with 
which,  on  the  25th  of  March,  1609,  he  again  sailed  on  the  expected 
track  to  India  through  the  Arctic  sea.  Op{)oscd  by  continual  "ales 
fogs,  and  ice,  he  finally  steered  in  a  westerly  direction,  and  on  the 
2d  of  July,  reached  the  bank  of  Newfoundland.  Keeping  on  along 
the  coast,  he  soon  after  entered  Penobscot  bay.  Here  he  cut  down 
a  tree  and  replaced  his  foremast,  which  had  been  carried  away  in  a 
storm,  and  traded  with  the  Indians  for  furs.  Despite  the  friendly 
demeanour  of  the  latter,  the  whites,  conceiving  a  vague  suspicion  of 
treachery,  at  their  departure,  committed  an  act  of  brutal  spoliation 
on  their  unfortunate  hosts.  "In  the  morning,"  says  Juet,  who  kept 
the  log,  "wee  manned  our  scute  with  four  Muskets  and  six  men,  and 
took  one  of  their  Shallops,"  (canoes),  "and  brought  it  aboord.  Then 
we  manned  our  boat  and  scute  with  twelve  men  and  Muskets,  and 
two  Stone  Peeces  or  Murderers,"  (very  appropriately),  "and  drave 


m^^i^. 


THE  DUTCH   IN   AMERICA. 


875 


the  Salvages  from  their  houses,  and  took  the  spoylo  of  them  as  they 
would  have  dcjiie  of  vs."  '         ^ 

Ilud,son  hacl  been  informed  by  his  friend,  the  famous  Captain  John 
Sm.th,  t  at  a  httle  south  of  Virginia  he  would  probably  find     IZs- 
age  to    he     nd..s    and  aecordingly  he  kept  southward  alonJ      o 
coant.     On  Cape  Cod  he  found  "goodly  grapes  and  rose  trees,"  a 
a  nendly,  eonhdu.g  people.    About  the  nuddle  of  Augu.st  he  a  riv  d 
oti  Chesapeake  Bay  where  Smith,  at  this  tin.e,  was  c^.gaged  in  Ihe 
mcn.orable  foundation  of  the  first  English  settlement  in  Ameri  a 
but,  on  aeeount  of  contrary  winds,  passed  without  entering.     Hayin.: 
proceeded  as  far  south  as  thirty-six  degrees  north  latitudorarul  seL-n^ 
n»  .nd>cat.on  of  a  pas..nge  to  the  Paeifle,  he  turned  northward.  anS 
discovered  Delaware  buy.     Keeping  on  this  eourse,  on  the  2d  of 
S,.p  ember,  he  eame  to  the  Highlands  of  Neversink,  since  the  chief 
aiHlmark  of  commerce  in  the  Western  Continent-"a  good  land  to 
fa    with,  and  a  pleasant  land  to  see,"  says  the  journul-"a  sentiment 
echoed  in  succeeding  centuries,  by  many  an  anxious  and  sea-worn 
■nanner.       He  rounded  Sandy  Hook,  an.I  eume  to  anchor  in  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Lower  J3ay  of  New  York 

The  Indians,  friendly  in  their  demeanour",  thronged  around  the 
vessel  in  their  canoes,  bringing  tobacco,  which  they  exchanged  for 
knives  and  beads.     A  party  sent  up  the  bay  to  explore,  declared 
iMt    the  Lands  were  as  pleasant  with  Grasse  and  Flowers  and  -oodlv 
rees,  as  ever  they  had  seene,  and  very  sweet  smells  came  from  them  " 
As  they  returned  in  the  evening,  ,hey  were  attacked  by  two  canoes 
hlled  with  Lul.ans,  twenty-six  in  all;  two  of  their  number  were 
wouMcled,  and  one  slain  outright  by  an  arrow  in  the  throat      The 
next  cay  the  natives  came  alongside  as  usual,  and  Hudson,  detaining 
two  of  them  as  hostages,  weighed  anchor,  and  on  the  11th  of  Sen- 
tember  passed  the  Narrows,  and  entered  New  York  harbour      "On 
us  r^ht  was  the  lovely  island  of  Mannaliata,  now  the  site"  of  the 
airest  city  m  the  New  World;  and  before  him  lay  invitingly  the 
beautiful  and  majestic  river  whi<.h  still  bears  his  name.     For  manv 
leagues  it  is  rather  an  estuary  than  a  stream,  and  it  is  said  that  he 
was  cheered  with  the  belief  that  it  w<m.1,1  prove  to  be  the  lon-.-souoht 
passage  to  India."     On  the  12,h  he  stood  u,>  the  river,  trading  with    ' 
he  liuhans,  and  by  the  evening  of  the  second  day  had  ascended  to 
the  Highlands.     Here  his  two  hostages,  whom  he  had  arrayed  in 
reel  coats,  made  their  escape  and  swam  to  shore. 
Anchoring,  on  the  evening  of  the  15th,  somewhere  nnor  f},.  bfloe 


I'^l 


6;  I 


UTG 


TIIK    I'K()1'I,K'«    UUDK    OK    IIISTDKY. 


of  tliu  CatlHlvillH,  ho  IouikI  "vory  loving  pcoplo,  und  very  old  men  " 
anil  was  kindly  ('ntrciiUMJ.     Tlio  Indiiins  l)ron;^'lit  corn,  I'nrH,  tobacco 
grnpcs,  and  pnnijtkin.s  I'or  exchange!,  and  tnillic  waH  briskly  carriiMl 
on  alon;;  the  river.     Sonio  way  further  up,  "our  Master's  Mate" 
Bjiys  tiie  journal,  "wont  on  land  with  un  oldo  Sauago,  u  (louornour 
of  tho  Cuunlrcy;  who  carried  him  to  liis  house,  and  made  him  good 
ehecre.         *         *         *         Our  Master"  (Hudson)  "and  his  Mate" 
])roeeeds  the  narrative,  "determined  to  trio  somo  of  tho  chielb  men 
of  the  Countrcy,  whether  they  had  any  troachorio  in  thom.     So  they 
tu.>lM>  iheiM  down  into  tho  ('abbin,  ami  gauo  thom  ho  much  Wine  and 
Ai/iKi   \'itiv  that  th(>v  were  all  nu*rrie;  and  ono  of  them  had  his  wife 
with  liini,  which  sate  so  inoilostly  as  any  of  our  Countrcy  women 
w.ii;l.l  doe  iu  a  strange  place,     in  tho  cml  onoof  thom  wasdrunkc," 
Ac,  iS;e.,  but  nothing  transpired  to  confirm  the  suspicion  with  which 
Hudson  .seems  I'ontinually  to  have)  regarded  the  natives.     AllVighted 
at  the  apparent  death  of  their  companion,  tho  chiefs  wont  on  shore 
but  tin-  next  day,  seeing  him  ulive,  "camo  abord,"  saya  tho  jouriuil 
"and  lirought  tobacco  and  more  Bcadt-a,  and  gave  thorn  to  our  Master 
and  made  an  Oration,  and  shelved  him  all  the  Countrcy  round  about. 
Then  they  .si'nt  one  of  their  Company  on  land,  who  presently  rcturnod 
und  brought  a  great  platter  full  of  vcni.son,  dressed  by  themselves 
and  they  causeil  hiui  to  eato  with  them.     Then  they  nuido  him  rev- 
erence anil  de[)arted." 


\j     didt     bUM      X         (L       JU     vbli  JL      df  % 

HUDSON  TfltNS  II  0  M  K  W  .\  R  1).  —  MURDEROUS  HOSTI  L  ITIE8  WITH 

THE  INDIANS. IMS  RETURN  TO   ENOLAND.  —  HIS  LAST  VOY- 

AOE   AND   DISCOVERY.  —  SUFEERINOS    I)  U  R  I  N  0    THE  WIN- 
TER.—  llENUY  OREEN. — MUTINY  OF  THE  CREW. — HUD- 
SON  AND  OTHERS  SET  ADRIFT  TO  PERISH. 

Aktkr  ascending  the  river  in  the  ITalf-Moon  for  about  an  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  and  exploring  the  contracted  channel  with  his  boats 
^<ome  distance  farther,  Hud.son  began  to  perceive  that  the  track  to 
India  wa.s  yet  undiscovered;  and  accordingly  he  turned  liis  prow 
southward,  and  beat  slowly  down  the  stream.     Two  old  men  came 


L__ 


TlIK    I.UTCll    IN    AMKKICA. 


877 


ulmn,  ono  of  wl.om,  .ay,  tin,  journal,  "l,n,-,Kht  n.om  Ih'.uh;,  a,..l 
gauo  the...  to  our  MuHtcr,  «,h1  hI,owo<1  l.i.n  all  tl.o  Cuuntrcy  ll.ero 
ubout  ,us  tl.ouM h  «t  were  at  I.Ih  co.an.atul.  So  he  u.adc  the  Uvo  old 
n.o,i -lino  with  h.ni  aud  the  ol.l  man's  wife;  Ibr  they  brought  two 
oKI  w..nu.u  ami  two  ^  ong  nuudons  of  tho  age  ofHixt.H.ne  or Heventeenc 
ycerc'H  with  theiri,  who  hehavcMl  therrmelviJH  very  modestly  " 

The  intercourhe  with  the  natives  of  the  river,  heretofore  ho  friendly 
mul  agrccabl..,  was  soon  converted,  by  a  eruel  arxl  violent  .lee<l,  into 
(lea.  ly  wurlure.     U„  the  1st  of  Uetobor,  just  below  the   Highlands, 
th.  Hall-Moon  eurnc  to  an  an.-.hor.     "The  people  of  the  Mountaynes," 
BU)H  the  i.armt.ve,  "eame  aboord  vs,  wondring  at  our  ship  and 
weaiioiis.     W  e  l«,ught  some  small  Skinnes  of  them  for  'JVilles      This 
nfturnounc  ..ne  Canoo  kept  hanging  vuder  our  ster.,e  with  on<'  mar. 
in  It  wh.eh  wo  eould  not  keepe  from  thenee,  who  got  vp  by  our 
Ku.lder  to  the  (  abin  window,  and  stole  out  my  I'illow  and  two  Shirts 
uiid  uvo  HarMlaleeros.     Our  Master's  Mate  shot  at  him  and  strooko 
.  liun  ou  the  breast  and  killed  him.     VVliereupon  all  the  rest  (led 
uwuy,  some  m  their  Canoes  and  so  leapt  out  of  them  into  the  water 
AVc  manned  our  Boat  and  got  our  thh.gs  againe.     Then  o.ie  of  them 
tliat  suunime  g(.t  hold  of  our  Boat,  thinking  to  ouerthrow  it.     But 
our  Cooke  tooke  u  Sword,  and  cut  oil' one  ,jf  his  hands  ami  he  was 
drowned."     The  next  day,  seven  leagues  lurther  down,  hostilities 
were  renewed.     Many  savages  appeared,  an.l  would  lain  have  con>e 
aboard :  "  but  wee  pereeived  their  intent,  and  suffered  none  of  them  " 
contmues  the  log,  "  to  enter  our  ship.     Whereupon,  two  CanoesTdled 
with  men,  with  their  Bowes  and  Arrowes  shot  at  us  after  our  sterne- 
in  recompense  whereof  wee  diseharged  sixe  Muskets,  and  killed  tw.l 
or  three  of  them.     Then  above  a  hundred  of  them  came  to  a  Point 
ofland  to  shoote  at  vs.     There  I  shot  a  KalcMi,"  (small  eannon,)  "at 
^.en,  an<I  killed  two  of  them;  whereupon  the  rest  fle.l  to  the  Woods 
Ut  they  manned  olf  another  Canoe  with  nine  or  ten  men,  whi..h 
came  to  ineet  vs.     So  I  shot  at  it  also  a  Falcon,  and  shot  it  thron.d. 
ami  killed  one  of  them.     Then  our  men,  with  their  Muskets,  killed 
tliioe  or  lour  more  of  them.     So  they  went  their  way  " 

On  the  4th  of  October,  Hudson  took  his  departure  from  New 
^ork  Bay,  and,  after  a  month's  voyage,  arrived  at  Dartmouth,  in 
J^ngland.  lere  he  was  detained  by  ,,n  order  of  the  English  court, 
ealousof  the  enterprise  of  the  Dutch,  but  contrived  to  dispatch  to 
h  s  eniployers  the  journals  of  his  voyage,  and  charts  of  the  country 
iie  had  explored.  ■^ 


ii' 


878 


TlIK    I'KOI-LK'a    HOOK   OK   HISTORY. 


,  * 


Tlio  last  voyago  and  dispovory,  and  tlio  mcliiiiclioly  fato  of  tliis 
I'auioiis  tiavigator  may  bo  bricMy  iiarniU'd.  In  April  of  tlio  next 
year  (KilO)  ho  again  sailed,  with  twonty-threo  men,  for  an  Knghsli 
Coinpany,  in  srurch  of  tiic  Nortli-wrat  Piis^ago.  llo  first  stopiieil 
at  Ici'huid,  and  thon  donhling  the  sonthern  extremity  of  Greenland 
was  involved  in  masses  of  floating  ieo.  (letting  elcar  of  this  obstrim- 
tion,  in  duly,  he  passed  tlirough  the  strait,  and  entered  the  <'ro.'it 
iidantl  sea,  both  of  whieli  still  cominemorato  his  name.  For  a  month 
he  steered  sondierly,  and  then  was  brought  up  by  the  land.  Tlio 
vessel  was  hauled  aground,  and  a  most  dismal  winter  was  passed  by 
the  erev/.  (irievous  sulfering  was  endured  from  cold  anil  liun<'-cr 
and  mutinous  diseontent  among  tlie  men,  aggravated  by  the  iinna- 
tienei!  and  irritability  of  tiieir  commander,  soon  ripened  into  a  tra- 
gical eonsinnmation. 

"  Yon  shall  vnderatand,"  aaya  Ilabakkuk  IVieket,  (who  wrote  a 
narrative  of  the  voyage,)  "that  our  Master  kt^pt  (in  his  house  at  Imi- 
:i'»i)  a  young  man  named  //niric  (rrcciir,  borne  in  /Cent,  of  Worship- 
full  Parents,  but  by  his  lend  life  and  conversation  lieo  Inid  lost  the 
goo(i-will  of  all  Ilia  friends  and  spent  all  that  hee  had.  This  man 
our  Master  would  have  to  Sea  with  him,  because  hee  could  write 
well;  our  Master  gave  him  meate,  and  drinke,  and  lodging,  and  by 
in(>anes  of  one  Master  Vni/iO)i,  with  much  adoe,  got  four  poundes  of 
his  Mother  to  buy  him  clothes,  wherewith  ^faster  Voisou  would  not 
trust  him,  but  sawe  it  layed  out  himselfe  *****  So 
I/ciirir  (iirciic  stood  vpright  and  very  inward  with  the  M.-ister,  and 
was  a  serviceable  man  every  way  for  maidiood;  but  for  Religion  hoe 
would  say  hee  was  cleane  paper,  whereon  he  might  wl-ite  what  hoe 
w.ndd."  During  the  winter,  the  elfects  of  the  gunner  (who  had 
died  early  in  the  season),  were  put  up  for  sale  at  the  main-mast,  tis 
usual,  !\nd  Cireene  wished  to  purchase  a  certain  "gray  gowne,"  bo- 
longing  to  the  deceased,  and  no  doubt  very  desirable  in  the  rigor 
of  an  arctic  winter.  Hut  Hudson,  being  dissatisfied  with  him,  said 
he  should  not  have  it,  and  ahari)ly  reminded  him  that  none  of  his 
friends  at  home  would  trust  him  with  the  value  of  twenty  shillinijs. 

"The  jealous  and  irritable  temper  of  mariners,  long  jjcnt  together 
in  disastrous  voyages,  is  well  known;  and  when  to  this  source  of 
dissension  are  superadded  privation,  sniVering,  and  the  constant 
dread  of  starvation,  it  is  hardly  surprising  that  their  minds  should 
be  tilled  with  morbid  imaginings,  and  that  trifles  should  assume 
unnatural  importance.     In  many  a  dreary  narrative  of  the  seas,  we 


._J 


TlIK    DUT-UII    I  N     AMKKIOA. 


379 


/in.!  rnattorfl  of  no  greater  moment  tlian  this  wretched  'gray  gowne  ' 
„K,gn,lie.l  into  in.portanoe,  a.ul  the  eause  of  tlio  most  lamtntabl'e 
4u.no.s  and  mutunos"  -'You  shall  see,"  says  Muster  J'ri.ket, 
"iiow  tlio  Demll  out  of  this  wrought  with  Iknvk  (hronc  " 

About  the  middle  of  June,  the  little  crew  of  forlorn  adventurers 
again  got  under  way,  but  were  soon  once  more  fast  in  the  ire      The 
scanty  reimuuder  of  ship-stores  had  been  already  .livided  by  the  can- 
tarn,  ''(aa.l  iu-e  wept  when  hce  gaue  it,)"  and  he  now  incurred  fresh 
ili-vvill  by  compelling  the  crew  to  produce  for  the  comm.m  benelit 
any  rcnmant  of  private  stores  which  they  might  still  have  in  their 
flic'sts.     A  barbarous  plot  was  now  liatched  up  by  Greene  and  Wil- 
son the  boatswain,  to  set  the  cai.tain,  with  the  sick  and  disabled 
adrift  m  the  ship's  boat,  as  the  most  likely  mode  of  saving  the  lives 
of  the  remainder;  and,  accordingly,  the  unfortunate  Hudson    with 
his  young  son  and  six  others,  (mostly  sick  or  lame,)  were  treacher- 
ously sei/ed  and  put  aboard  the  boat  towing  astern.     Belbre  tlie 
ship  was  clear  of  the  ice,  the  mutineers  cut  the  line,  and  left  their 
unli.rtiinate  victims  to  perish  of  cold  and  iiiinger.     On  their  wiv 
homeward,  four  of  them,  including  Greene  and  Wilson,  were  killed 
by  the  savages,  and  old  Juet,  whose  crime,  as  well  as  that  of  Greene 
was  enhanced  by  past  friendship  and  favours  received  from  JIuds(Mi' 
perished  of  hunger  on  the  voyage.     The  company,  the  next  year' 
dispatched  the  same  vessel,  under  Captain  Thomas  lUitton   to  searc-h 
for  the  deserted  commander,  and  to  complete  the  supposed  discovery 
of  the  North-west  passage ;  but  neither  object  was  accomplished 


■      CHAPTEH   HL 

VOYAGES  01'   TJIK   DUTCH  TO  HANNAH  ATA.— EXPKDITIOX  OP  I.LOK 
ANl)  CnilFSTlAANSE.— NEW  AMSTERDAM  (NEW  YORK)  FOUNDED 
—COLONY    PLANTED   ON   THE    DELAWARE:    SINGULARLY    DE- 
STROY E  D.— 00  VERNORS    MINUIT    AND    VAN    TWILLER  — 
SETTLEMENT  OF   THE  SWEDES  ON   THE    DELAWARE. 

In  the  year  1810,  following  the  discovery  of  the  Ifud.on,  private 
indivKluals  m  Holland  dispatched  a  vessel  to  traflic  for  furs  with  the 
Indians  inhabiting  its  shores;  the  success  of  this  expedition  led  to 


380 


Tllii   PEOTLK'S    1500K   OF   HISTORY. 


several  others;  and  some  little  trading  stations  were  established  on  the 
island  of  Mannahata  (Manhattan  or  New  York).  In  1614,  a  corpora- 
tion, entitled  "The  Amsterdam  Licensed  Trading  West  India  Compa- 
ny," was  cha'-tji'cd,  (with  a  monopoly  of  commerce  in  the  newly-found 
region,)  which,  that  same  year,  dispatched  thither  two  vessels,  under 
Adrian  Blok  and  Ilendrick  Christiaanse,  The  former,  arriving  first 
at  Mannahata,  and  losing  his  vessel  by  fire,  set  to  work  with  much 
energy  to  build  another,  in  which  he  again  set  forth  on  a  voya"-e  of 
discovery.  Passing  through  that  narrow  strait,  which,  from  its  furious 
tides,  his  crew  called  Ilelle-gadt  (Hell's  Gap) — ^a  name  which  with 
slight  alteration,  it  still  retains — he  passed  through  Long  Island 
Sound,  and  proceeded  as  far  as  Cape  Cod,  where  he  found  his  con- 
sort. The  two  captains  cruised  westward  along  shore  in  company 
surveying  the  coast,  and  naming  the  islands.  They  discovered 
Narraganset  Bay  and  the  Connecticut  and  Ilousatonic  rivers-  and 
Block  island,  which  they  passed,  still  commemorates  the  name  of 
its  discoverer. 

Ascending  the  Hudson,  they  built  a  fort  on  Castle  Island,  a  little 
below  the  present  city  of  Albany ;  and  in  the  following  year  another 
was    erected    on    Manhattan,   where  New  York  now  stands,  and 
whither  lor  many  years  the  Dutch  vessels  came  regularly  to  receive 
their  cargoes  of  furs.     Their  powerful  neighbours,  the  Iroquois  or 
Five  Nations,  long  at  deadly  feud  with  the  Canadian  French,  viewed 
with  satisfaction  the  establishment  of  rival  settlements,  and  main- 
tained friendly  rela<^ions  in  general,  both  with  the  Dutch  and  English. 
Though  once  disturbed  by  a  visit  from  Captain  Argall,  from  Vir- 
ginia, who  claimed  the  country  in  behalf  of  his  government,  and 
occasionally  by  the   bucaniers,  the   Dutch  continued   to   maintain 
their  traflic,  and  slowly  to  extend  their  settlements.     In  lfi21,  a  new 
corporation,  entitled  "The  West  Indian  Company  of  the  New  Neth- 
erlands," was  chartered  by  the  States-General  of  Holland,  which,  in 
1623,  dispatched  a  large  number  of  settlers,  under  Captain  Mey,  to 
their  colony  of  Mannaliata.    He  relieved  the  wants  of  that  little  settle- 
ment, (which  no  ship  had  visited  for  two  years,)  and,  after  exploring 
the  coast  some  way  to  the  eastward,  turned  south,  and  finally  entered 
Delaware  river.    Cape  May,  named  after  him,  conmicmoratcs  the  visit. 
Ho  passed  up  the  river,  and,  on  Gloucester  point,  a  few  miles  below 
the  preseiit  city  of  Philadelphia,  founded  a  settlement,  which  he 
named  Fort  Nassau,  but  which,  after  a  brief  tenancy,  was  abandoned. 
Fort  Orange,  on  the  site  of  Albany,  was  built  the  same  year. 


)lished  on  the 
14,  a  corpora- 
tndia  Compa- 
!  newly-found 
/^essels,  under 
arriving  first 
k  with  much 
a  voyage  of 
>in  its  furious 
!  which,  with 
Long  Island 
und  his  con- 
in  company, 
y  discovered 
3  rivers;  and 
the  name  of 

sland,  a  little 
year  another 
stands,  and 
'ly  to  receive 
J  Iroquois  or 
ench,  viewed 
s,  and  main- 
and  English, 
dl,  from  Vir- 
^rnment,  and 
to   maintain 
1621,  a  new 
3  New  Neth- 
id,  which,  in 
tain  Mey,  to 
,t  little  settle- 
,er  exj)loring 
lally  entered 
ates  the  visit. 
miles  below 
t,  wliich  he 
s  abandoned. 
)  year. 


■,"")  ■     ■    '    ■ 

1 

ti,: 

i  i 

Is} 

!l 

!    ; 

'.  :  ? 

^■! 

■  ^i 

■  i 

-'  " '  ■  r 

T 

1 

1 

1| 

THE   DUTCH   IN    AMERICA. 


881 


Two  years  afterwards,  (1625,)  the  company  sent  two  more  sl.ips 
under  command  of  Peter  Minuit,  the  first  governor  of  "The  New 
Netherlands,"  (as  the  country  was  now  called,)  with  a  number  of 
Walloon  emiirants,  who  settled  on  Long  Island,  where  the  "  Walla- 
bout,"  or  "Walloon-bend"  still  distinguishes  the  place  of  their  selec- 
tion.    In  1630,  De  Vriez,  a  skillful  navigator,  who  had  served  in 
the  East  Indies,  was  sent,  with  thirty  or  forty  peopfe,  to  found  a 
new  colony  on  the  Delaware.     On  the  site  of  what  is  now  known  as 
Levvistown,  on  the  southern  shore,  he  built  a  small  fort,  which  he 
called  Iloeren-kill,  and  having  landed  the  settlers,  with  their  stock 
and  supplies,  sailed  for  Holland,  leaving  one  Gillis  Osset  in  connnand 
"The  new  settlement  had  but  a  brief  existence,  and  owe^  its  de- 
struction to  an  incident  singular  enough.     The  Dutch,  by  way  of 
taking  formal  possession  of  the  country,  had  erected   a  pillar    to 
which  was  affixed  a  piece  of  tin,  inscribed  with  the  arms  of  Holland 
This  tinsel  bit  of  heraldry,  ere  long,  was  appropriated  by  an  Indian 
chief,  who,  unconscious  of  its  high  import,  converted  it  into  tobacco- 
pipes  for  his  private  smoking.     At  this  insult,  as  he  deemed  it  to 
'Their  High  Mightinesses,  the  States  General,'  Osset  became  ridicu- 
lously enraged.     Vindication  of  outraged  dignity  is  generally  vehe- 
ment in  p.oportion  to  the  paucity  of  the  aggrieved  attribute;  and 
the  Dutch  commander,  with  strange  inflitnation,  refused  to  be  satisfied 
with  any  excuse  or  reparation  which  the  Indians  could  oiler.    ^eein<^ 
hirn  thus  unappeasable,  and  perhaps  supposing  the  crime  to  be  of 
a  heinous  religious  nature,  they  finally  cut  olf  the  head  of  the  of- 
fending chief,  and  brought  it,  a  grisly  token  of  submission,  to  the  fort. 
"Osset  stood  aghast  at  the  consequences  of  his  obstinate  sulkiness 
and  told  the  Indians  that  they  should  only  have  brought  the  culprit 
before  him  for  reproval.     But  the  mischief  had  been  done,  and  the 
friends  and  relations  of  the  murdered  chief  resolved  on  a  sweeping 
and  terrible  revenge.     All  was  contrived  with  savage  artifice  and 
secrecy.    The  colonists  were  mostly  engaged  in  tillaiie,  and  only  a  fow 
remained  at  the  fort.     These  were  massacred  by  some  warriors  who 
entered  under  pretence  of  selling  beaver-skins.     The  Indians  then 
walked  slowly  to  those  in  the  fields,  and  foil  to  eonversin.r  in  a 
friendly  manner.     Not  the  slightest  suspicion  was  awakened°until 
"t  a  given  signal,  the  savages  foil  on  them,  and  butchered  them  to  a 
man       I  he  entire  colony,  consisting  of  thirty-four  men,  perished 
at  a  blow. 

"In  December,  De  Vriez  returned  from  Holland,  and  the  utter 


Til  K    rKOn.K'S    IIOOIC    OK    II  iSTdUV 


HiK-iuv  of  111,'  .IwolliiigH  fon-warnod  liim  of  misforltuuv  1{,„wh  -uu] 
hI<iiIIs  l.MV  hlciu-liin^r  on  tlio  shore.  The  IndimiH,  witli  wlioi,,*  1h, 
WHS  soon  in  (lii-iHlly  inloivonrso,  inlonncd  Iiiui,  willi  uU  tho  oirciuri. 
ulanccs,  of  the  nuinh'r  of  his  counlrynuin."'* 

I"   Kl.S.S,  Minnil,  was  itlphiTOd  in  ofllco  by  Woutor  Van  TwilU-r 

un.l,«:-  wiioni  Kort  AnistiMdatn  (tho  sctthnnont  at  MainialiatM)(!ontiii' 

ikhI  Io  iiuTwiso.     Wind-iMJIls,  in  onudation  of  tho  inothcr-oountry 

W(>ro  hnilt,   and  iiofrro  slaves  w.to   iinpoilcrd.      A   church   and  il 

species  of  statediouse   Were  also  orecited.      IMinuit,   d(>pose(l    from 

odie.-,  entered  tho  servieo  of  (Miristina  of  S\vcd(Mi.     Her  father  tlio 

Mieat  (instavus,  had  alrea.lv  planned  tlu.  fo.mdation  of  a  settle.nent 

111  Ameriea.  ami  had  ,h«voled  a  large  sum  ($1(H),()00)  to  the  ol,j,vt 

Oxeiistiern,  the  Swedish  niinisfor,  prompted  hy  this  ciromnstaneo' 

mul  hy  the  persuasions  of  Minuit,  readily  eanu>  into  tho  scheme' 

and,  ahout  tho  year  l(i;m,  an  expedition  was  (lispateh(>.]  to  the  l),i 

aware,  wineh  iMvoted  a  tort,  ealle.l  alU-r  the  ,pie.Mi,  C'hristinn   and 

made  a  settlenuM.t  near  Wilmington.     The  footing  thus  obtained  hv 

the  Swedes  was  allerwanls  a  source  of  no  small  trouble  and  uneiusi. 

ness  to  their  Dutch  neighbours. 


■ 


C  H  A  V  T  E  H   I  ?„ 

OOyKKXOU    KKIPT,  — OOyERNOR    STUYVKSANT:     HIS    T  II  A  IMCTF  R. 

MK    SrUDl-KS  THE   MVKUKS.— UNTKN  A  HI.K   CLAIMS   OV   TlIK  KNO- 

MSI!.— OlIANT    IIY    CIIAHI.K.S    II.    TO   TlIK    D  f  K  K    OP    YOKK 

—  \KW    AMSTKUIIAM    TAKKX   HY  OOI.ONKI,    NICOI.I.S:    lUi- 

TAKKN    HY    TlIK   IM' TOII  —  FIN AI,  CliSSION  TO  KNOT, AND. 

Ix  1038,  William  Keii>,  in  jdaoe  of  Va„  Twiller,  was  appointed 
.aovernor  o(  the  New  Netherlands,  and  wns  spee.lilv  involved  ia 
ilUheulties  with  the  gradually  encroaching  JMinlish"  He  forh^ulo 
tlu>in  to  trade  at  the  fort  of  Good  Tloiu<,  (a  s.nall  'l)utch  post  in  Con- 
■noet.eut.  whore  the  city  of  Hartford  nou-  stan.ls,)  and  broke  up  hy 
loroo  a  settlement  whirl,  they  had  made  on  Long  Island.  In  1(518 
the  English  colonies,  now  greatly  superior  in  strenoth  to  their  nei..!i! 
bours.  entered  into  a  league  against  th.-in.  The  horrors  of  Ind'iiui 
warfare  were  .-^oon  added  to  the  ,^t her  troubles  of  the  ouuutry.  Koil^, 
♦  Dist'ovorora,  &c.,  olWniorica. 


Til  I.  iu;t(jii  j,\  amkkkja. 


383 


on  HUHj.idor,  c.f  l.o«tiIe  intcntioMH,  had  uttucko.l  u  party  of  tho  „ati  vo8 
,    uii.l  l.iul  niuHHucml  nearly  a  hundred  of  them.      An  Indian  wir' 
I    I,.sLmg  lur  two  years,  md  elfectually  cheeking  the  progreHs  of  thd 
I    BCU1.-IH..1,  was  the  result;    but  was  finally  terminated  by  treaty. 
I       lo  Ke. I,    m  l.-h    «ueeeeded  l>eter  Stuyv-sant,  the  last  and  n.ont 
lunnm  ol  the  Duteh  governons.     Jlis  n.emory,  inmiortaliz,.!  by  the 
unnv  coinie  muse  of  Irving,  always  {.resents  itself  in  the  shape  of  ■! 
wt;,tli.T-hn,ne.l,  (Icwee-I.K.king,  silver-legged  old  warrior,  with  an  air 
ol  obstinate  detennination,  qu.te  suilieient  to  justify  his  popular  .s.- 
Ln^d  of  //«,v/%,^./y  ./v,,,  or  I'<,ter  the  JJeadstrong.     He  beeamo 
,siKH.li ly  en.bro.Ied  with  all  his  neighbours;  but  justiec  must  a.hnit 
tn:,l  the  right  was  on  his  side-that  the  ])uteh  were  the  aggrieved 
l.:..t.y    .md  that  ,n  the  contests  whieh  troubled  his  adn.inistration, 
1,0  .hsplaved  all  the  .p.alities  of  a  gallant  soldirr,  an  energetic  n.a-nsl 
tratc,  iin.l  a  faithful  servant  of  his  employers."     J{y  his  wise  -md 
Inii.iane  government,  he  maintained  peace  with  the  Indians;  and"  by 
.vMH.vmg  oppnusive   n-strictions  on   eommeree,  greatly  fbrwanh.d 
tlu.  in  ens  s  of  h.s  colony.     The  cnnpany,  with  a  liberal  and  far- 
.siKlit.'d  po hey,  in  advance  (,f  the  age,  prohibited  all  reli-nous  i.erse- 
cutiun.and  sought  to  nuikc  the  New  ^'etherlands  a  refuge  for  the 
exiled  beli.vers  of  any  creed.     "  KVom  France,  the  J.ow  Countries, 
the  Mime,  Northern  Oermany,  IJohemia,  the  mountains  of  Piedmont 
llio  Huflermg  I'rotestanUs  flocked  to  this  trans-atianlie  asylum  " 

The  new  governor,  a  man  of  quick  temper  and  of  military  ardour 
wxs  not  likely  to  submit  to  aggression  from  his  neighbours-  and  ■[ 
pure  ol  ireaeherous  violence,  committed  by  Ifis.ngh,  the  Swe.li.h 
Kovnior,  allorded  him  an  opportunity  t.,  wi'est  ba-k  the  territory 
-f  <1-  );'tU'--  l;ad  gained  by  a  species  of  encroachment.     On  the 
Delaware  .•.ver,  where  Newcastle  now  stands,  the  Duteh  had  ,,Ianted 
a  ,K.st,  nan.ed      ort   Casimir-an  object  of  tnt.ch    jealousy  to  ,he 
bunloH      Hismgh,  with  thirty  me..,  u..der  pretext <,f  a  friendly  visit, 
-1  -<--     this  fort,   and   had   been   hospitably   entertaimd;   In.; 
tiva.herously  seized  it,  with  all  the  houses  and  other  pn,pe,ty  ,.'■  di. 
company,  wmeh  it  protected.     To  avenge  this  outrage,  tlie  sturdy 
governor,  w.th  a  force  of  six  hnndred  nien,  sailed  up  the  Delaware^ 
■f,  alUT  i-otak.ng  Fort  CVsimir,  nia,-ehed  into  ".\..w  Sweden  "  as 
tla)  couiiti-y  was  called,  and  laid  siege  to  Fort  ( M,  ristina  itself!    Kisimd. 
.•a«  coinpe  ed  to  s,,.-rende,-,  and  the  whole  settlement  .as  in.o,;.- 
cd  w.th  the  Dutch  i.rovi..ce-n,ost  of  the  settle,,  .eniaini.ig  and 
Mibinitt.ng  peaceably  to  the  rule  of  the  .lew  government. 


384 


THK    PEOPLK'S    BOOK    OF    HISTORY. 


The  lustre  of  this  triumph  was  soon  overshaded  by  the  successful 
rapacity  of  a  more  formidable  foe;  and  the  little  province,  so  peace- 
fully settled,  and,  for  the  most  part,  so  moderately  and  wisely  troy- 
crned,  was  destined  to  be  absorbed  in  the  overwhelming  progress  of 
a  people  the  most  active,  aggressive,  and  retentive  of  conquest  which 
the  world  has  ever  seen.     The  tn)ubles  with  the  eastern  Kntrlish 
Colonies  had,  for  a  time,  been  settled  by  a  treaty,  wliich  admitted  the 
latter  to  a  share  of  Long  Island.     "But,  as  the  importance  of  the 
trans-atlantic  possessions  became  more  obvious,  these  questions  of 
priority  of  settlement  were  merged  in  the  more  decisive  contest  be- 
tween the  arrogant  assumption  of  the  British  crown,  and  the  just 
but  feebly-defended  rights  of  the  states-general.     There  could  hardly 
be  a  claim  more  untenable  than  that  advanced  by  England  to  the 
possession  of  the  little  settlements  which  the  Dutch,  with  such  m- 
tiont  and  persevering  industry,  had  reclaimed  from  the  wildernc.'i 
The  whole  country  which  they  occupied  had  been  unquestionably 
first  explored  by  Hudson,  sailing  in  the  service  of  the  Dutcli  l<;n,st 
India  Company,  and  had  immediately  afterwards  been  settled  by 
Hollanders  in  advance  of  any  other  nation.    Purchase  and  treaty  with 
the  natives  had  added  confirmation  to  their  title.     These  peifectly 
unassailable  grounds  of  possession  the  English  attempted   to  invade, 
by  claiming  that  Hudson  was  an  Englishman,  whose  discovery  must 
therefore  enure  to  the  benefit  of  his  own  country,  and  that  Cabot, 
sailing  by  these  coasts  an  hundred  and  fifty  years  before,  had  tims 
secured  the  right  to  the  whole  to  those  who  employed  h'im.    This 
proposition,  it  is  needless  to  say,  was  of  a  self-stultifying  nature,  for 
if  Hudson  was  an  Englishman,  Cabot  was  a  Venetian,  and,  according 
to  this  rule,  the  whole  country  must  have  belonged  to  the  little 
republic  of  Venice.     Moreover,  there  was  no  evidence  that  Cabot 
had  ever  even  seen  the  inlets  and  recesses  which  the  Dutch  had 
selected  for  the  site  of  their  settlements."*  '       ■ 

Charles  II.,  of  England,  not  long  after  his  restoration  to  the  throne,    ' 
prompted  by  enmity  to  Holland,  and  a  desire  to  extend  his  terii' 
tories  in  North  America,  made  a  grant  to  his  brother,  the  duke  of 
York  and  Albany,  (afterwards  James  II.,)  of  a  vast  tract  of  land 
including  all  the  Dutch  settlements.     To  put  the  grantee  in  posses' 
sion,  a  fleet,  carrying  three  hundred  soldiers,  under  command  of    '' 
Colonel  Richard  Nicolls,  with  Sir  George  Carteret  and  Sir  liobert    ! 
Carr,  was  dispatched  to  America;  and  in  August  of  1664,  came  to    : 
*  Discoverers,  &c.,  of  America.  i 


THE   DUTCH   IN    AMEEICA 


885 


anchor  before  the  httle  capital  of  New  Amsterdam.  The  governor 
cnanclmg  the  purport  of  this  armament,  was  informed  by  nTcoIs 
tlrat  hs  orders  were  to  taice  possession  of  the  town  and  country  Tnd 
offered  the  fa.rest  terms  in  case  of  surrender.  Stuy vesant  wXut 
a  force  suftcent  to  repel  the  hostile  squadron,  and  beset  bytlL 
clamorous  cowardice  of  the  council  and  the  citizens,  rem  ined  f 
some  days  in  a  state  of  great  perplexity  and  irritation,  rTsin  /to 
consent  to  a  capitulation,  and  keeping  the  town  in  grievo^  su  p^n  o 
and  agitation.  Compelled  by  circumstances,  be  fintlly  signed  fs" 
render  on  the  most  honourable  terms,  and  then,  disgusted  with  forZ 
aggression  and  domestic  pusillanimity,  retired  in  writh  m  ° 

t^y-seatin  the  Bou.er,,  wi.ere  be  .^.at^Z:^:^^  Z ' 
II.    English,  taking  undisputed  possession  of  the  country  inS" 

loiK,  .inu  tiiat  ot  l^ort  Orano'e  to  Allnmr      Tv,  ^■ 

family  of  Carteret,  wbich  eam°e  f^Ll^^e  o^Jer;'::'!?,  '" 

portion  of  the  New  Netherlands  received  the  lle^^^^^^^^^^ 

Ihe  new  rulers  of  the  country,  Nicolls  and  his  successor  Lovekce 
governed  in  aii  arbitrary  manner,  admitting  no  autho  Ity  Ixce  J 
such  as  was  lodged  in  their  own  hands  and  In  the  offi  ^e  s  of  thX 
appcn  nient,  and  imposing  grievous  and  unreasonable  taxes  on  e 
onguial  colonists.  The  latter  governor,  it  is  said,  even  avoid  te 
ohcy  of  exacting  such  burdensome  impos^  that  "  the  peopTn  i!  t 
Java  no  leisure  to  think  of  any  thing  exiept  how  to  pt  t  m  '- 
The  greatest  discontent,  consequently,  prevailed,  and  renfc^L  1  1 
vehemen    were  sent  in,  that  they  were  condemned  to  b    bu      " 

-aercommand.ofEvertse;t;::re7^^^^^^^^^^^ 

with  the  same  facility  with  S.  tLlnT7  "?  ''^""^^ 
cIiuM    )■       I    {        ,         ^'^''  ^^owever,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  con 

Vol.  III._2o  I 


W-r 


PART  V. 


^t  imxtl}  iu  l^mrrita. 


CANADA/ 


EARLY     FISHING     VOYAGES. — GIOVANNI     V  E  R  H  AZ  A  N  0.— HIS 

VOYAGE  IN  THE   DAUPHIN. ARRIVES  AT  NORTH   AMERICA. 

DESCRIPTION  OF   THE   COUNTRY.  —  ITS   INHABITANTS. 

VERRAZANO     COASTS     NORTHERTY. KIDNAPPING, 

THE   GREAT    HARBOUR.  —  FRIENDLINESS   OF    THE 

INDIANS. VERRAZANO   SAILS   TO    LABRADOR. — 

RETURNS  TO  FRANCE,  —  HIS  SUBSEQUENT  FATE. 

For  some  time  after  the  discovery  of  the  New  World,  no  national 
attempt  seems  to  have  been  made  by  the  French  to  secure  a  fouthuld 
on  its  shores.  The  Basque  and  Breton  fishermen,  the  most  hardy 
and  enterprising  of  their  day,  not  long  after  the  memorable  voyiige 
of  Cabot,  discovered  and  turned  to  account  that  mine  of  wealth- 
more  certain  and  enduring  than  those  of  Potosi  or  Mexico— the 

♦  The  origin  of  this  word  is  uncert:rm.  "In  1635,  one  Stephano  Gomez  sailed 
from  Spain  to  the  island  of  Newfoundliind,  and,  it  would  .seem,  entered  th«  Gulf  of 
St.  Liiwreiice,  and  traded  on  its  shores.  Aecording  to  the  Spanish  aeeouiits,  hispeo- 
pie,  disappointed  in  their  expectations  of  treasure,  frequently  repeated  the  words 
'  Aca  nuda,'  ('here  is  nothing.')  and  thus  conferred  on  the  whole  province  the  n;ime 
of  Canada,  'i'liis  title,  however,  is  more  probably  derived  from  the  Iroijuuis  word, 
'Karniata,'  s'giiifyniif  a  cluster  of  cabins." 


T"";    KKKNon   JN   AMKKICA. 

Great  Rank  of  Newfoundland      r„.    n  ^^^ 

^^r;^^— -;^^"-e  ha;d,^!;H:^"  -''  "^^-  ^^  ^-  -- 

Spanish  and  /Ct^ugu^'sr^HvIl!:  ^^1T  ""^"''''^  by  jealousy  of  his 
fitted  out  four  vessels,  th  e"!  a 'ro"flf  1"^^  ^^"^  ^^  ^^'-ver; 
vanni  Vcrra.ano.  a  noble  Fbrenrne  In'  T  ''""^''^'^  ^«  ^iol 
com.tryrnen,  Cokunbus,  Cabot,  and  Vesnucin!'  ""'"'"'  ^'""'"^ 
and  encouragement  at  home,  had  carri  Jv  '  ''""""^'  Weciation 
the  service  of  a  foreign  cou  t      Tl  L  r^'"'"'  '"^'  '^"^n^ri^^  to 

ofana.lversestorm,butthee„;ernri I'"'^'  '""  ^"''''''  ""  «^««""t 
yenr,  in  a  vessel  called  the  Cp'hiw •?."«?"'"'  "^  ^'^  ^""owing 
from  the  island  of  Madeira  an     «?    '  T     ^"^  '"^"'  ^^^i"  «et  sail 

M..^y,  (1524,)  've  w:::'::ei:r.  -"r'  ^"  *'>«  ^oth  ;;j 

of  report  to  the  king,)  '•  with  as  sharpe  anTlIrirr""'  ^'"  ^'^  '^"^'' 
any  sayiers  sullered,  whereof,  with  the^f  *"'f  ^"^  ^^'''P^^t  as  ever 
assistance  of  Almighty  God  and  LT  7  '"'^^  ^"^  '"^'^^-'if-'H 

panied  with  the  good  happ  '  o  ^'^^f '^^  ^'  »-  ^'^'Ppe,  accom- 

s-on.)  "we  were  delivered    and  with  "'"'''    ^'"^  ^^'^''^ly  allu- 

our  course  West  and  bv  North  A  a  ^"^'^f ""«  ^'"de  followed 
above  400  leagues  mor^,  when "  we  d.  "'  "'^^  ''  ^^^«  '^'^  "^«Je 
^ejojeseeneofany  man;i.ht^::Lr::i^^  ''''''  '^^^ 

)-;  Maiesrie  may  not  think  ^^        ^        '"  r'''''     ^"^ 
or  the  Wilde  deserts  of  2hrtarv   aZ  ^''V'^"^'*^^  «^'  ^^^'•-^"'« 

'•'•uitlesse  trees;  but  they  ar  tfl' of  f  '  ""'''^"^^  «°''«t«.  f^"  of 
cypresse  trees,  and  many  .  L; sorts'^- 7  "'  ^'^  ''''''  ^^  high 
-l^'^hveeld  rr,ost  sweet  savos  ?^'  '"  """^'""^^^^  i«  ^--/°e, 

-'-'-f  we  could  not  ^."Z^Z^''  ^''^  f'^^-^'  ^he  prope/ty 

7  «picery,  and  other  riches  of "1  d     '  ^''''''-  ^^^'^^  ^^  drugs 

'lo;h  so  much  argue  it."  Tl^eh^t^?'  ''''  "'""'•  "^  "-  ^-'d 
-;>l'yin  the  imn^ediate  vicinity  o  the  k^st'T'r'  '"  '^''''''  '"'^  -P'^" 
all  early  voyagers  to  America  fromC.^;  if '  ''''  ""«  ^^  ^^''"«h 
"t'nost  difficulty  disabused.  ^"'"^"'  ^°^^".  ^^ere  with  the 

After  sailinar  in  vain  fifM.  i 
4e  c„m„,„„cU,;  .g,       , "  ^/"T  '°;'«>  -"'l-  in  <I«es.  of  a  port 

'""•  '"  8™'  '"""bm,  came  to  meel 


388 


TIIK    !•  i;ur  I.K'S    IIOOK    OK    lllH'I'dUY 


1  II  iVit'inUv  mill  li(W|)it.!il)li<  Hi>iiil.     Tlioy 


llio  (lim'ovi'iiM-H,  ivtitl  oviiicci 

art'  .lrs.>Mlu-.l  iim  l.M.lviiiK  "ii'>l.  miu'li  m.liko  tlio  Simu-oi.H,"     "willi  u 

olir.Mlull  luui  .sU'iidv  ItH'Ut",  <'"l  ««'""K  "'"  l»"l.V,  .V't  Hliarpo-wiUcd, 

„itnl.l,<,  nii.l  oxomliuK  gmit  n.i.i.ors."     TlM-ir  .n.Iy  .'loUrniK  w,m  a 

Hiurics  oC  .'iiu'lmv,  nia.l.-  ..f  Muall  I'm'H,  "wlucli  Uioy   laHl.-n."  sayn 

V.-rra/aiio,  "ui.lo  a  narrow  nuaic  iiia.lo  of  khisho  vory  anilliMally 

wrou,ut,l,  liang.Ml  about  with  tlio  tayli>Horot,lior  bfast.-H,  wliidi  .laii«l« 

to  llii'ir  Uiit'cs.     Somo  o 

tlnMS."     Still  pursuiii^i  tlio  uraiul  /,'/ 


rtliiMii  woam  K.irlamls  iiiado  of  liynli's  lea- 
niis  /'iitiiii.i  oi'  lii.M  (lay,  lie  holds 


lliat  tlioy  an' 
osjuviallv  lo  llu'iu  ( 


liU(>  lo  i1m>  pcopU-  ol'tlio  cast  parts  of  tlio  vvorltl,  uiul 


it  tilt'  iillormost  partH  ofChiiui.' 


Sailing  iDrthoastorly  aloti.ir  tlit<  roast,  lio  "saw  cv-ry  wli.<n«  I'lvat 

r  tilt'  iimltiliiilc  of  tin-  iiiliabilauls,"  luil  I'loiu  tlio 

111  not  riV.'ft  a  laiuliiiK'.     -^  yoiiiiK  man,  who 

t.stoamiillitiitliM)r  intliaiisaslioro, 


lin's,  hv  n'asoii  o 


want  of  harbours,  con 


8wan\  throngli  the  surf  with  pirwn 


.1  by  thftn   from  tin'  waves,  and 


oarru't 


at 


boiiiK  itoarlv  .Irowiu'd,  was  rosi'iK't 

n-Wi\  ashoiv  with  j'lvat  kindnt'ss;  "tlioii  settin;'  him  on  tlm  ^umA 
..„  Iho  footc  of  a  litllo  hil  against  tlio  siimu',  tln-y  bcKaii  to  hchold 
iihu  with  Kivat  admii-ation,  marv.'illins  at  tlu'.  whitoiu'sso  of  his  ih'sho; 
and  putting  olV  his  rlothos,  they  mado  him  warm  at  a  jj;rcat.-  tire, 
uot  without  oiir  givat  I'catv  wliivh  rcmaiiu'd  in  the  boatc,  that  they 
would  havo  rostod  him  at  that  tiiv,  and  have  ratcn  him."  With 
all  maniu'r  of  oarossos  iiiul  kiiidnoas,  thoy  revived  him,  and  restored 
him  t>>  his  eomi^anions. 

The  usual  return  (or  this  kindly  treatment  was  sjieedily  iii;ulo. 
Suilum  farther  on,  the  Kreneh  lamh'il,  and  twenty  of  them  explomi 
the  eountrv.  Thov  f'>'»i»il  in  the  woods  an  oKl  woimiii  and  a  young 
one.  oaeh  with  three  ehihlren  on  her  shouhlers.  "Our  men,"  says 
thooool  commander,  "tooko  a  childe  IV.MU  the  oh'-'  ™>"  •-  '"'i"" 
into  Fram 
vorv  boautifn 


and  going  about  to  take  the  yung  woman,  which  \v;is 
1  and  of  tall  stature,  they  could  not  possibly,  for  tho 
p,...ja  outcries  she  made,  bring  her  to  tho  sea;  and  especially,"  (lie 
contiimes  apologetically.)  "hauing  great  woods  t(»  passe  lliorow  iiiid 
bcintx  farre  from  thcsliippc,  we  purjuwed  to  leave  her  behind,  heamg 


<jir<i)/  thcchihli'0}icl!/ 


Still  keeping  a 


]Kn\iX  the  shore,  he  found  the  land  well  peopled. 


iiiul 


i  a  irrcat  harbour,  which  he  describes  as  lying  "in  the 


tinally  entcrct 

raralcle  oi'  Home,  in  41  degrees  and  2  tcrci 


and  which,  from  m 


description,  may 


have  been  either  tho  entire  region  of  waters  lyii'.!: 


around  New  York,  or  those  af  Narraganseit  bay.    Many  canoes  came 


TIIK    KKKNCII    IN    A  mi:  in.:  A.  jj^j, 

ofl'to  Ins  vrsM..!,  (ill..,|  will,  |„.li„„H  uuionK  Uwm,,,  I„.  m„vh,  "2  l<in«H 
cf  HO  >,M«).ll.y  Htiitiir,.  nn.l  hlmp,,  m  \h  pumUU'  U,  ,U'r\aiv"  Hrtv  Im, 
Htni.l  nn.T.i  .lu.vH,  „„J..yinK  tl.o  rnoHt  fri.u..lly  wtnv,mm'.  with  l,l,o 
,mtivrH--"..(l..nt,i,M..,V  1..  s,tv„,  ".„„,  oI'M,,.  two  ki„KH  roMMning  witl, 
liiH  (|urcim  aiMi  many  ^.r,dU'uu'n,  for  lli.-ir  pI,,,Hiir..,  lu  h.m,  iih  *  *  » 
Tho  Q.U-CM.0  .tn.l  hor  jnai.ln  Htai.l  in  a  v-ry  liKl.t,  boat,  at  an  llainl  u 
.piaifT  o  a  I.N.KU.'  oli;  wliil,,  tl,«  K  !„«  al.o.|.,  a  lon^  H,.a.io  in  o„r  ship 
i.H..m,K  .l,v.;rH  ....nrnls,  with  Kostun-s,  vi.winK  with  un-at  ml.nirati.in 
""  ""•  '""'liUuv  ol  th.,  Shi,,,,,.,  ,|,.,„a„,|iM,r  M„.  ,,n.,„.rty"  (usr)  "of 
.very  th.n^^  ,,arti..„laHy.  II.  t,.ol<  li|<..wis,.  fr,vat  [.IrasMn,  in  h,.ho|,|. 
..ig  our  a|.,mn.ll,  an.l  in  taHtin^  our  moutM,  un.l  8o,.,nrt..onHly  taking 
lim  oav..  .I..,,art,..|."  (hvat  ..o,„,,a„i..s  (,r  tho  In.lianH  m,no  ahoanl 
inthnrcaiiocM,  wilh  all  (Vi..n.lliMnsH  an.l  hoM|,itality.  "TImt  arc  v-^ry 
lihorul,"  Hays  the  narrator,  "  (or  they  givr  what  tl.ry  have'" 

From  this  havon,  on  tho  Hth  of  May,  ho  took  his  ,lo,,artnr..  an,I 
sml.MJIor  a  Inin.lr.Ml  ,uh1  my  |,,,^m,(.,s  al.,,,^.  the  oonHt,  nofi,,..  JtH 
vanata.iiH,  an.l  tho  .lillWrnoo  of  ..lin.at...-  Tho  ,,,.o,,l,,  wore  n-n,.!, 
rmmi  Havago  than  tho.so  lio  had  lat.Oy  Hoon.  "I.ooko"  )„.  mxH 
"h.,w  n.n.'h  th,.  li.rn.or  nrnnvd  t,.  hv  o.Mirtoon.s  and  ^..nt'h,,  „o  nni..h' 
were  Ihosi!  full  ,,|   ni. Ion. "Hs  an.]   ill-rrianorH.         *         *         *  |,. 

at  any  tinio  wc  .Icsiro.l  l.y  oxohan-o  to  havo  any  of  thoir  oornmo.li- 
tics,  thoy  usod  to  oon.o  to  tho  HoaHh..ro  u,,on  CTiaino  ora^'-y  r.u-kH 
nml  wo  Htandn.K  in  our  bontH,  tlioy  lot  down.,  with  u  ro,:o"what  \l 
I)Ica«..d  thorn  togivo  uh,  oi  ung  oontinually  that  w,-  .shoul.l  „„t  ,„,- 
pr.)iioli  to  tho  lan.l,  .l.nnafi.iing  itnn.odiat..|y  tlu!  oxohaiigo  fukin.^ 
notlung  but  knivos,  lish  hookH,  an.l  tooloH  to  cut  withall,  ,,n/(/.r  £l 
they  make  any  arcowU  of  our  amrtvH,,.  An.l  whon  wo  ha.l'  nothing 
left  to  oxohango  with  thon.,  whon  wo  .lopar..-,l  from  thoin  thoy 
8li.)we<l  all  Higno-s  of  .li.soourtosio  an.l  .lis.htino,  m  w.^ro  poHsibIc  for 
any  c.roaturo  to  invont."  Th.-so  ill-.;ondi,iono.l  ,u.o,,Io,  w,  d.-fioiont 
n.  n|,proouition  of  Frcn(;h  politeness,  probably  in'lmbitod  tho  rugged 
coast  oi  Maine.  * 

Vcrrazano  oruisod  along  the  shr^ro,  it  would  sooni,  for  about  two 
thouHand  ,n,k-s,  as  far  as  the  desolate  ooasts  of  Lat.-ra.lor  or  Now- 
foundland  and  thon,  his  provisions  being  mostly  spent,  roturruMl  to 
l^ranee.  Iho  subso.iuent  fate  of  this  old  navigator  is  involved  in 
muclunystery.  "A  short  time  after  his  arrival,"  says  Charlevoix, 
lie  littod  out  another  expedition,  with  tho  .losign  of  establishing  a 
colony  in  America.  All  that  we  know  of  this  ontorprisc  is,  that 
iiavuig  embarked,  ho  was  never  sc(jn  more,  and  that  it  never  ban 


■I'll  K   I'Kol'l.i:','^    lUMiK    OK    II  IHTOUY 

Ixvii  asi'crtiiiii.'d  wlml,  iK-cimu-  (.1'  liim."  It,  is  uHsortod,  howovor  ii, 
Uiiiimsio's  colIoctioM  of  voyi\^(^H,  1,1ml  Vt.-rni/iiiu)  and  tluwo  wlio  vv'nii, 
iislioro  vvitli  liiin,  woro  killod  ami  iIcvoiiiimI  by  tlin  siiva^'ca  oil"  (;„,„. 
llr(>t()ii;  mill  it,  is  said  t>Is(>wli(Wo  that,  tlio  HuinocatuHlroplio  liuppoiicd 
on  sliiphoanl.  Uiit,  iiotliiiif?  ciortiiiii  Ims  v.ouw  down  to  u.s  mspcctin.. 
tlio  natiiro  ol'  lius  i<x|HHlitioii  or  the  I'ato  ol'  liiniMoU'aud  luHcoinpanioiih" 


CHAPTEH   IL 


J  A  cm' MS  (•  A  ItTI  i:i!    niSCOVKIlH  Til  K  ST.    I,  A  W  It  K  N  C  K.  —  111  8  SKC 

ONI>     VOYAdK— (JllKllKO.-      IIOCIIKI.AO  A.    OH     MONTIIKAI,. 

FlMKMll,  V     I  N  HI  A  NS.  ■— THKACII  HHOrs     K  1  1)  N  A  1' P  1  N  (I     ItT 

CAirriKu— K.\i'i;i)tTi().N  op  uoiiukvai.  and  cautikh, 
—  mis  i'o  I!  T r  N  |.;s  a  n  d  i'  a  i  i,  u  it  k  —  a  tt  k  m  i'ts  u n  dkii 

IlKNUY     IV    — I'ONTOllAVK,    (' H  A  M  I'l.  A  I  N  ,    AND    DK 
MO. NTS. — Til  Kl  It    KX  rUDITION. 


Ix  lo.Sl,  at  tho  instan(M>of  Hioh  .Admii-al  01ial)ot,  tlio  kinjr  pro- 
vidod  incaiis  lor  aiiotlior  voyagv  ol'  discovrrv  in  llu>  saiiu;  dinu'lioii. 
Jaoques  Cartior,  flio  oomniandcr,  on  tin-  L>()il,  of  April,  with  i,wn 
small  vsols,  and  a  hundred  and  twiMity  men,  sailo(i  from  St.  Mali; 
jnid  ill  twcntv  da.vs  mado  tho  rocky  hoighis  of  Nowroiindliiiul'. 
I'assiiij,'  throu.uh  the  Straits  of  M.llo  Ish-,  ho  cntoivd  tho  (liilfof  8l. 
l-awriMUT,  and  ooastod  alon^r  ii,s  .slior.s,  doliohtrd  wiili  ,|n,  hcmty 
of  tho  soonorv  niid  tho  .i;viitlonoss  ,.1'  tho  nativo  inhahitants.  llo 
oiitorod  tho  rivor  St.  Lawronoo,  and  took  formal  po.-^sossion  of  the 
fountrv,  aOor  tho  usual  fashion,  in  tho  namo  of  his  mastor;  and  having 
i<K'\/.<.\],  by  strata,Liom,  on  two  of  tho  mitivos,  sailod  lor  Kiaiioo.  Tlio 
oourt,  onoouia-od  l-v  his  favourahlo  report,  dotormiiKHl  to  found  a 
colony  in  the  nowlyi-xplorod  i-egion. 

Aeeordin<<ly,  in  May  of  tho  Killowinjj;  year,  with  throe  vessels,  lie 
aoain  prooeotloil  to  tho  groat  rivor  whidi  lie  ha<l  dis.'ovored.  ami 
passing  up  it,  early  in  tho  autumn,  arrived  at  a  hoauiiful  islan.l',  oev- 
orod  with  viuo.s,  whieh  he  oalb  d  tho  Isle  of  l!ae,  hus.  It  is' mnv 
known  as  tho  Isle  of  Orloan.^,  lying  a  little  below  (,,)iiobee*  At  the 
The  <lrriv.ition  ..fthis  iuku-  li.is  1„.,.|.  oIIcm  ,(h,i,  ,st,(l.  Some  H:,y  it  i.s  luMrly 
tho  original  in.iian  (eu.i  Qurhiii..;  olli.rs,  i|,„t  ji  j.,  ,|,,.iv..,l  f,.„m  Camirh.....  .„,  (ho 


TilK    I'UKNCII    IN    AMKIMCA. 


891 


L 


ni.aill.  ..r  U.o  nv.T  St.  (JharlcH,  juHt  bolow  tlio  liigl.  and  rocky  pro- 
iii.mtory  on  which  that  city  now  Htan.ln,  the  Krcch  rcjHolvod  to  take 
..p  M.o.r  wmtcr-quarlerH.  An  Indmn  chici;  nan.ed  Do.umcona, 
nttoiKlcd  with  many  canoes,  can.o  to  welcome  then.,  placiny  his  urn. 
:u..inul  the  a.hniral's  neck,  and  cxhil.iliB^.  ,„,icl,  courtrsy  a„d  kind 
nrsM.  Wiicn  th.*  Htran-ers  landed  (near  Sta-lac.na,  his  villa.rc, )  thin 
(Vini.lly  chief,  with  /ive  hu.ulred  of  hi.s  irib..  was  waitin^^on  tlw 
.shoro  10  receive  them;  and  the  Kirwich,  who  had  never  «een  (nor 
l.rob:d.ly  heard  of)  the  euHtom  of  smoking,  ho  widely  prevalent  among 
tlie  native  trihcH  of  America,  were  aHtonished  to  behold  their  hosts 
viK<.rou.ly  iml.ihM.g  from  lo„g  reed  pip.n  the  potent  fumes  of  U>baeeo 
'Iho  m.strnmont  one;  lighted,  reports  Cartier,  (a  better  sailor  than 

""•'^ '"^')  "^'"'y  «"«''^-  'It  the  other  end  ho  long  that  thoy  fill  their 

boaios  lull  of  smok..,  till  it  comes  out  of  their  mouth  and  nostrils  m 
(roin  the  chimney  of  a  hoii.se." 

boarning  that  a  largo  town,  called  Iloehelaga.  lay  at  some  dis- 
tHiic(^  up  the  river,  Cartier  determined  to  proceed  to  it,  and   with 
tlurty-live  ,.l  his  ,mm,  ascended  the  stream,  receiving  much  kiiuh.eas 
and  liaspitality  from  the  natives  who  inhabited  its  shores     At  Iloch- 
ohi^a,  where  he  arrived  on  the  2d  of  October,  more  than  a  thousand 
IiKhuiis  were  waiting  on  the  shore  U)  give  him  welcome.     Their 
town,  circular  in  form,  and  surrounded  by  a  strong  rampart  of  pali- 
Hiuk's,  c(.nsist(!<l  of  fifty  gnat  houses,  which  were  w.,.ll  supplied  with 
iMilian  corn,  l.euns,  dried  fish,  and  other  simple  articles  of  native 
faro.    Jt  stood  m  a  vast  field  of  corn,  un.l  hanl  by  was  a  mountain 
to  winch  the  l<'rench  gave;  the  name  ..f  Mont  Uoyale,  since  corrupted 
iMlo  Muutrcal,  and  applied  to  the  Kun.j.ean  city  which  has  renlaee.l 
.ho  rude  village  of  Iloch,.Iag..i.     These  people,  I'cgarding  the  white 
men  with  a  superstitions  veneration,  brought  their  sick— among  them 
their  king,  Agohanna,  a  paralyti(v-t.    their  guests,  entreating  that 
tluy  nnght  be  li.alcd.     Cartier,  disclaiming  the  powers  attributed 
to  liiiu,  made,  however,  the  sign  of  the  cross  over  the  sufferers  gav(. 
them  chaplets,  and  read  a  portion  of  the  gospel  of  St.  John,  prayii..' 
for  tlu'ir  conversion.  r    j     n 

Ketuniing  to  Qju^bce,  the  voyagers  sufTered    terribly  from   the 
extreme  cold  of  winter,  and  twenty-five  of  them  perished  of  scurvy. 

Sein,.;  wl,i|.,  otlu-r  m.thors  n.m„tain  that  it  had  its  origin  in  the  oxch.m,.tion  of  Cnr- 
tiers  ,„l„t,  „„  l,r«t  h..h<,l.iinfr  th,,  ,n,>j..«lic  «:.,..>,  'Quo!    I,,..-!'   ('what  a  beak"  or 
Pio-nnntory;)  /.v,  i„  ,ho  Norma.,,  c.orr«..,,o.,di„K  to  the  old  EngVish  Ae»  or  No8e. 
iw  u  gfiuiial  tfiiii  lor  any  reiiiaikablu  huadland." 


>  '/ 


fUlf 


V  I  I 


m 


892 


THE    PEOPLE'S   BOOK   0¥  IIlSTORt. 


They  experienced  groat  kindness  from  the  natives,  which,  as  usual 
they  repaid  by  a  piece  of  atrocious  perfidy.  Their  kindly  host 
Donnacona,  with  several  other  Indians,  was  entrapped  aboard  ship 
and  made  prisoner;  on  which,  says  Cartier,  his  people  were  incon- 
solable with  grief,  and  canfe  howling  round  the  vessel  like  so  many 
wolves.  Leaving  their  encampment  in  May,  1530,  these  cruel  and 
ungrateful  men  returned  to  France. 

Attracted  by  reports  of  the  beauty  and  fertility  of  the  country 
watered  by  the  Great  River,  the  Sicur  do  Roborval,  in  1540,  procured 
from  the  king  the  office  of  viceroy  over  "New  France,"  as  the  lately- 
discovered  region  was  now  termed.  Cartier,  his  lieutenant,  with 
several  vessels,  sailed  in  May,  15-11,  and  at  the  end  of  three  months 
arrived  at  Quebec.  The  Indians,  renienibcriiig  past  injuries  were 
unfriendly,  and  he  passed  an  uncomfortable  winter,  continually 
dreading  attack,  at  Cape  Rouge,  a  ihw  miles  further  up  the  river. 
Tn  June  of  the  following  year,  Roborval,  with  three  vessels,  came  to 
the  Road  of  St.  Johns,  in  Newfouiidlaiul,  where,  to  his  surprise,  he 
was  joined  by  Cartier.  l)isaj)pointod  and  moody,  the  latter  refused 
to  prosecute  the  enterprise,  and,  with  his  people,  sailed  silently  away 
in  the  night  He  died  not  long  after  his  return  to  France.  Robor- 
val, with  his  innnediatc  command,  proceeded  up  the  river  and 
passed  the  winter  in  the  quarters  of  his  lieutenant,  losing  iiftv  of 
his  men  by  scurvy.  Other  losses  succeeded;  the  crews  were  sick 
discontented,  and  seditious;  in  1543  he  made  his  way  back  to  France. 
Si.K  years  afterwards,  he  again  sailed  on  a  fresh  expenlition  to  the 
country ;  but  nothing  was  ever  learned  of  the  fate  of  him  or  his 
companions. 

Discouraged  by  these  repeated  failures  and  losses,  the  French,  for 
half  a  coritni-y,  made  no  further  attempts  to  colonize  this  inhospitable 
province,  but  confined  themselves  to  fishing  and  trallie  with  the 
natives  on  the  coast.  It  was  not  until  1598,  that  the  spirit  of  enter- 
prise, under  the  auspices  of  Henry  IV.,  was  once  more  awakened. 
In  that  year,  the  Marquis  de  la  Roche,  as  viceroy  of  New  France 
sailed  for  Nova  Scotia,  but  accomplished  nothing  in  the  way  of  set- 
tlement, except  to  leave  forty  wretched  convicts  on  Sable  island 
where  most  of  them,  in  a  few  years,  perished  from  want  and  ex- 
posure. Private  enterprise  proved  more  fortunate,  and  led  the  way 
to  better  judged  and  more  suceossfiil  oObrts  on  the  part  of  govern- 
ment, Pontgrav^,  a  merchant  of  St.  Malo,  a  man  of  great  enterprise 
and  judgment,  had  for  several  ycais  voyaged  to  the  Sagucnay,  and 


THE   FRENCH    IN    AMKKICA. 


898 


brought  cargoes  of  valuable  furs,  obtained  by  traffic  mth  the  Indians. 
In  im,  under  the  patronage  of  De  Chatte,  governor  of  Dieppe,  and 
successor  in  office  to  De  la  Eocho,  he  fitted  out  an  expedftiin  to 
New  I  ranee,  taking  with  him,  as  associate  in  command,  Samuel  de 
Charnplam,  a  naval  officer,  of  high  repute  for  his  services  in  tlie 
East  Indies. 

Arriving  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  leaving  their  ships  at  Tadousao 
the  voyagers  ascended  as  far  as  Eochelaga  or  Montreal-but  thl 
hd.an  village,  so  thrifty  and  populous  in  the  days  of  Carticr  had 
by  this  time,  it  would  seem,  nearly,  if  „ot  quite,  disappeared.     War 
or  pestilence  had  probably  terminated  the  brief  and  uncertain  tenure 
by  which  this,  like  all  uncivilized  tribes,  held  its  po.ssession  of  a 
liomc     The  explorers  returned  to  France,  where  the  Sieur  de  Monts, 
wl:o  had  succeeded  I)e  Chatte  in  office,  fitted  out  four  ships  to  effec 
the  colonization  of  New  France.    With  Champluin,  Potrincourt,  and 
many  other  adventurers,  in  1604,  he  proceeded  to  the  Bay  of  F^ndv 
where  on  a  small  island,  he  wintered-the  scurvy,  as  before,  making 
tcrnble  ravages  a.nong  his  people.     At  Port  Koyal  (now  Annapolisl 
ui  Acud,a  now  Is  ova  Scotia)  he  built  a  fort  and  plunted  a  settle- 
n>en  ,  which  fur  ten  years,  continued  to  increase  and  prosper,  but 
which,  in  16  4,  was  attacked  by  a  force  from  N'irginia,  u.lde;  Sir 
Samuel  Argall,  and  was  broken  up.    (See  Acadia.) 


C  E  A  P  T  E  H   H  L 

CHAMPLAIN   POUNDS   QUEBEC:   .MAKES    WAR  ON   THE   IIIOQUOIS. 
POINDS  MONTREAL.— EXPEDITIONS   WITH   THE   HURONS  -HIS  ' 
DISCOLUAOEMENTS.  — INCONSIDERABLE  SETTLEMENTS  — 
CANADA    TAKEN    BY    THE    KNO  L  1  SH.  — RESTO  R  ED  — 
THE     COMPANY     OF     NEW     PR  A  NCE.— D  E  A  TH     OF 
CHAMPLAIN:     HIS    CHARACTER. 

In  im  Champlain  dispatched  from  France  with  two  vessels,  to 

trade  at  Tadous.c,  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  found  a 

pennanerit  colony  on  the  shores  of  the  St.  Lawrence.     After  a  d 

u  -'rvey  of  its  shores,  he  selected  for  the  site  of  his  settlement  that 

.l.laulul  hoadlancl,  knon'n,  even  at  that  early  dny,  =.  Quebec,  the 


;!iit 


TllK    PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTUKV. 


stitiu'  wlu'iv  Ciirtier  had  jiassod  his  lirst  winter.  This  was  in  July 
ami  (hiriiii^  tlic  brio!"  remaiMilcr  of  a  Canadian  Hununor,  buildings 
wiTo  L'lvoted,  ami  i)iT[)aration8  were  made  for  iho  long  winter. 
Whon  the  s()ring  camo  on,  (^haniplain,  dcsirouH  of  ctrooting  fresh 
oxploration,  and  little  scru{»nlons  in  his  choice  of  nieaiKS,  accompa- 
nied a  party  of  Algoncpiins,  with  whom  ho  had  made  friends,  on  a 
hostile  expedition  against  their  ancient  enemies,  the  Iroquois.  Piusa- 
ing  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  they  reached  a  river  running  from  the 
houtii,  and  by  this  outlet  made  their  way  to  that  beautiful  lake  which 
still  bears  the  name  of  its  first  Kuropean  discoverer— the  Champlaiii. 
Near  the  southern  extremity  of  this  lake  they  entered  a  smaller  one 
now  known  as  Lake  (leorge,  and  on  its  banks  had  a  desperate  fi'dit 
wilh  some  two  hundred  of  the  Iroquois,  who  were  entrenched  in  a 
rude  fort.  The  lire-arms  and  the  skillful  manceuvres  of  the  French 
secured  the  victory  to  their  allies;  a  luunber  of  the  enemy  were 
killed,  and  ten  or  twelve  were  taken  prisoners;  the  latter,  despite 
the  remonstrances  of  Cluunplain,  were  put  to  death  with  the  cruel 
tortures  customarily  practised  among  these  barbarous  tribes. 

Keturning  to  France,  the  adventurer  was  received  with  much 
favt>ur  by  Henry  IV.,  and  in  the  ibllowing  year  (1(310)  again  sailed 
for  the  St.  Lawrence,  reaching  the  mouth  of  the  Saguenay  in  the 
wonderfully  brief  [>assage,  considering  the  age,  of  eighteen  days. 
Quebec  was  in  u  prosperous  condition,  and  he  now  laid  the  Ibunda- 
tiou  of  a  small  settlement  at  Montreal — destined,  in  time,  to  become 
one  of  the  fairest  cities  in  America.  Strangely  regardless  of  princi- 
ple or  policy,  he  continued  his  sy.stcm  of  accompanying  and  as.sist- 
ing  the  savages  in  their  wars  with  the  Iroqu()is,  thus  incurring  for 
himself  anil  his  peoph"  the  deadly  enmity  of  those  powerful  tribes— 
an  enmity  fated,  at  a  future  day,  to  result  almost  in  the  ruin  of  the 
colonies  planted  with  such  toil  and  perseverance.  Having  once 
more  gone  to  France,  and  incorporated  a  company  to  further  his 
plans  of  colonization,  he  returned  to  Montreal,  where  the  llurons 
and  other  Indian  allies  o.'  the  French  were  preparing  for  a  grand 
cxjH'ditiou  against  their  ancient  enemies.  As  usual,  he  joined  them; 
but  this  time  the  expiedition  was  defeated,  and  the  allies  retreated 
in  disgrace,  carrying  otf  their  wounded,  among  whom  the  Freuch- 
num  was  one,  in  a  singular  manner.  "Their  bodies  were  bent  into  a 
circular  form,  bound  with  cords,  and  thrown  into  a  basket,  where 
they  lay  like  infants  in  swaddling  clothes,  unable  to  stir  hand  or 
foot.     Chanqdain  feelingly  describes  the 'agonies  he  endured  while 


TilK   J.-UKNCII    IN   AMKRICA. 

being  curricl  twcnty./i ve  or  thirty  leagues  i„  this  position  •  on  bein^ 
;  ;  ''^'^7*  /^""  ."^  ""''-  •'«  ^^It  a«  ir  ho  had  con.e  out  of  T  du  Jeo  " 
^     JJesp.to  h,s  nnsfortunes.  he  explored,  on  this  cxped  tion  "'^It 

extn.   o    country,  even  reaelung  Lake  Nipis^in^  Ld  Luke  Hu  ,  ! 
I     i.|  "1    iK'Ho  arduous  eflbrts  in  behalf  of  the  new  prov    ee  d        : 

w  ,ch  he  repeatedly  went  to  Frunee,  he  obtained  li  tie"  nt  :f 
I  cutu,,.  ot  ins  schemes,  either  fron.  the  erown  or  the  eo,n  a  y^  i 
,     ks   tmos   energ,es  at  tunes,  were  recpnred  to  prevent  the'    n^^,    ,^ 

irn  b  eakn.g  up  the.r  settlements,  and  relinyiishing  alto^e  .:  .« 
i     attempt  to  eolonize  those  inelement  regions  b^^>a^ihulho 

,        Jiehgious  dissensions  between  the  Catholies  and  ITu-n.enots  soon 

,       tier  0   .-iK.m  they  inilieted  a  eonsiderable  n.assaere.     A  s^  e  i'  ^ 

,         uui^Kuits.     Jn  1(,27,  the  "Company  „f  New  Kranee  "  eh^irtf-n.,! 
un  or  the  ausp.ees  of  the  iiunous  liiehelL,  went  intc;^  ku       w   h 

iricnrs  lo  tne  crown)  ovor  ri(>'irl»r  ..ii  ti.  .        •  " 

I)  ■.■  I     ,        •        ^  iiuirly  all  the  vast  regions  now  known  -w 

^nU^^An^nc.,  with  the  right  to  confer  titles^f  a  h  glTor  i. 

0  sclc.  governors  and  other  officers  t.  rule  their  prot  l^s  ^^  . 

,   r  .1  '  "'"'  ''""-^'^'"^  ^^^•''^'""'^'  ^•"'""■■«ts  should  be  truns 

tun,  and  in   lhJ|>,  the  little  settlement  of  Quebec  was  ^.ken  bv 

i^ftnisT'f  '^"^''^  ^"'  ^-"^'^^'^^  ^"  «ubnn;r  tS^ 

tl  e    die  .ettle.nents  thinly  scattered  over  that  inhospitable  re-ion 

rc-i,  the  like  at  Ihree  Rivers  ami  Ta<lousac,  and  a  kw  lishermen's 
loff-liouses  elsewhere  on  the  banks  of  tl,,.  4    I  "''"'-'•nien  s 

1  />  .  .  I'liiiKM  oi  uie  ot.  Lawrence  vi<;>r«  ♦  w> 
only  fruits  of  the  discoveries  of  V,.r,.  i  ^'"'^'^"^''  ^^^-re  tlie 
vil  .,,.,1  r^l         ^."''^'o^^"^"  *^J    \  crra/.ano,  Jac(pies  Curlier,  iiober- 

'  ^  -!"!•  am   the  great  outlay  of  La  lioche  and  D    Mon 

an       0, ..and  sullenngs  of  then- /i.llowc,s  for  nearlv  a  century- 
LiMM   tlie  ac'tive  administration  ,,f  ranliual  lU 


iicr 


now  ever 


;;it(i 


'I'lIK   I' I'.or  I.K'H    HOOK    OK   UIKTOICY. 


(•n'K'il'Mt.  iiioiuiH  Imtl  luHMi  tiiknn  to  promote  llui  proHporitv  of  tlio 
rccovcidtl  I'olony;  niul  tho  coniinmy,  wIioho  operations  Imd  l)(.,,n 
siispoiitlcd  liy  tho  Into  diHUHtorH,  in  tlio  following  your  (Ulli.M)  nguin 
pIiu'(Ml  Cliiinipliiiii  in  «'oninmn(l  of  tlio  colonics,  nnil  dispiitclu'd  uii 
oxpcdition,  ciirryinfj;  more  property,  it  was  suppiw'd,  llian  tlic  eiitiro 
jirovinoo  at  that  tiini^  contained.  'I'Iuh  expedition  inereaHcd  tiio 
population,  and  materially  protnot(>(|  tlm  prosperity  of  New  l^'ranco- 
but  the  death  of  ( 'lianiiilain,  which  took  place  soon  after,  was  u 
severe  blow  (o  \\w  infant  colony.  "He  died  in  1(1.'!;'),  Icavinf.,'  a  liii'li 
renown  for  courage,  for  jiatient  and  indefatigable  industry,  and  for 
fervent  piety — tho  latter,  it  Hoonis  to  us,  hardly  dosorvod,  considor- 
ing  his  unprincipled  interfer(>n<'o  in  Indian  warliire,  and  his  bi-rotdd 
exclusion  of  I'rolestant  .s(>ttlcrs  from  the  forlorn  refuge  of  the  Cuiiii- 
dian  wilderness.  lie  certainly  bc(pu'athcd  to  the  state  which  lu;  Im,! 
founded  with  siu'h  pains  and  persovoranee,  iv  deej>  ami  deadly  nativo 
hostility,  destined  to  involve  it,  at  a  later  jx-riod,  in  almost  total 
destruction."  "To  him,  however,"  says  an  elegant  author,*  "boloiiirs 
the  glory  of  planting  Christianity  and  eivili/ation  among  the  snows 
ofthe.se  northern  forests;  during  his  life,  iiulecd,  a  feeble  germ-  Imt 
sheltered  by  his  vigorous  arm  nursed  by  his  tcn(icr  caro— the  root 
struck  deep.  And  now  a  million  and  a  half  of  Christian  poonlo 
dwell  in  peace  anti  plenty  upon  that  nnignifuicnt  ttM'ritory,  which 
his  zeal  and  wisdom  first  redeomod  from  tho  desolation  of  tho 
wiUlorno.ss." 

*  Wnrl>urton — "Coiuiaeat  of  Cniiiidii." 


TllK   ]!"1{KN(JJ1   IN    AMKIUOA. 


807 


CIIAPTEH   I?. 


ADMINIHTIlATrON    OP  MONTMAONY. UN  IMIOSPKROUS  CONDITION 

OF  iJi  )■;  ritovi  NOK,  —  D'aiuiknhon.  —  d'a  v  a  no  our. — xiti- 

II 11  I- IIS     OP     TllK      IROUUOIH.  —  KARTIICIUAKE. — RHiN- 

PORCKJIKNTS    PUOM     I'RANCK. MKSKY.  —  TRACY.  —  1)  K 

C  (I  iJ  R  C  K  I,  I,  !•;  a  —  Til  K   C  0  M  T  I-)    I)  K    P  R  0  N  T  K  N  A  C :    III  H 

CHARACTER.  — T  U  R  11 1/ 1,  H  N  T    A  I)  M  I  N  I  IS  T  R  A  T 1 0  N . — 

DE    LA   IIARRE;    IN  H   KXI'KDITION    AOAINHT  TllK 

IROUUOIH;     ITH    PAll.URK. — C  K  I,  K  H  R  A  T  E  « 

Sl'KKCJl    OP   OARANOULA.-      MA0NANIM0U8 

CONDUCT    OP    THE    IROQUOIS. 


MoNTMAONV,  tlie  HUcccHHor  of  Cliarnplain  in  the  government  of 
CiiiiiKlii,  wanting  in  tin;  (MitliUHiustn  and  experience  of  tiiat  farnouH 
coiiiiiiaiuU'r,  was  unable  cnieicntly  to  jiroinotc!  the  inerease  and  j)ros- 
IK'iity  of  tlie  province.  Tlie  founihition  of  the  college  of  the  Jesuits 
and  ofotlKsr  religious  establishments,  which,  j)roinpted  by  the  pious 
will  of  French  ecclesiastics  and  of  ladies  of  rank,  took  place  about 
this  time,  were  the  most  important  events  which  distingui.shed  the 
('iirly  ,y(!ars  of  his  administration.  Tlie  company,  after  the  death  of 
Clianiplain,  did  nothing  towards  settling  or  cultivating  the  country 
l)ut  conlined  themselves  to  the  more  profitable  trade  in  furs,  and 
erected  forts  only  for  the  eonvcniiince  and  protection  (>{  that  enter- 
l)nse.  The  alfairs  of  the  colony  languished,  and  tiie  Iroquois,  with 
very  natural  enmity,  continued  to  harass  the  weaker  settlements. 
Montreal,  it  is  said,  would  have  been  completely  destroyed  or  aban- 
doned, but  for  the  timely  arrival,  in  1047,  of  an  hundred  emigrants 
from  France,  under  M.  D'Aillebout. 

When,  in  1(558,  the  Manpiia  d'Argenson  arrived  in  Canada  as 
governor-general,  the  condition  of  tliat  province  was  miserable  in 
the  extreme.  Neglected  by  the  company,  its  prosperity  had  con- 
tinued to  decline,  even  the  fur-trade  becoming  almost  extinct;  and 
tlie  Iroquois,  having  wreaked  terrible  vengeance  on  their  ancient 
foe.s,  the  Ilurons  and  Algonc^uins,  seemed  on  the  point  of  overj)ow- 
ering  the  French  altogether.  A  great  number  of  settlers  were  miis- 
suered  by  them  at  Montreal,  and  Qucdx^c  itself,  surrounded  by  a 
force  of  several  hundred  warriors,  was  nearly  in  a  state  of  actual 


398 


TIIK   PEOPLE'S   BOOK    OF   HISTORY. 


8iege.  To  D'Argenson,  in  lOfil,  succeeded  the  Baron  D'AvanTour 
a  man  of  stern,  inflexible  character,  whose  prompt  action  saved  tiie 
settlements  from  destruction.  His  urgent  representations  to  Louis 
XIV.  of  the  importance  of  the  province  and  its  defenceless  condition 
induced  that  sovereign  to  dispatch  a  force  of  four  hundred  men  for 
its  protection — the  timely  arrival  of  which  inspired  fresh  hope  and 
courage  in  the  almost  despairing  colonists. 

In  the  year  KJHS,  a  tremendous  earthquake,  continuing  at  inter- 
vals for  the  space  of  six  months,  spread  dismay  among  the  settlers 
and  extraordinary  convulsions  of  the  earth  and  the  rivers  are  said 
to  have  taken  place.  The  St.  Lawrence,  for  a  hundred  and  thirty 
miles,  was  discolored  and  inqpregnated  with  sulphurous  matter. 

Tlie  company  of  New  France,  by  their  mismanagement  and  imbe- 
cility, having  reduced  the  colony  to  the  lowest  state,  in  16()4  sur- 
rendered their  charter,  which  was  transferred  to  another  almost 
equally  incapable  as.sociation,  the  Company  of  the  West  Lulies. 
The  Baron  d'Avangour,  recalled  at  his  own  request,  was  replaced 
by  M.  de  Mesey,  who,  quarrelling  with  the  bishop  of  the  province 
was  also  deposed,  and  the  Marquis  de  Tracy,  for  some  time  viceroy 
over  the  French  possessions  in  America,  in  June,  1665,  arrived  in 
Canada  from  the  West  Indies,  as  governor  in  his  stead.  The  arrival 
of  a  regiment  of  French  soldiers,  provided  for  the  defence  of  tiie 
colotiy,  enabled  him  to  take  more  efficient  means  of  defence  against 
the  Iroquois,  and  three  forts  were  erected  on  the  river  Richelieu 
(Sorel  or  St.  John's)  to  check  the  incursions  which  they  habitually 
made  by  that  passage  from  Lake  Champlain.  Nevertheless,  by  other 
routes  they  renewed  their  ravages  with  such  fury,  that  all  tlie  vm- 
lance  of  the  governor  arid  all  the  force  of  the  colony  was  required 
to  protect  it  from  destruction.  Having  provided  in  the  best  manner 
possible  for  its  defence,  in  1668  he  returned  to  France,  leaving  M. 
de  Courcelles  governor  in  his  stead 

Many  of  the  military  ofRcer.s,  having  received  grants  of  land,  with 
seignorial  rights,  settled  in  the  province,  and  many  of  the  soldiers 
were  also  distributed  among  the  settlements,  adding  materially  to 
the  stretigth  of  the  inhabitants.  Three  hundred  courtesans,  "dis- 
patched from  France,  were  all  disposed  of  in  marriage  within  a  fort- 
night after  their  arrival;  and  n-mch  encouragement  was  given  by 
the  government  to  the  formation  of  families  and  the  increase  of  a 
legitimate  population.  During  the  administration  of  Courcelles, 
much  of  Canada  was  explored;  and  the  original  inhabitants,  by  the 


THE  FRENCH  IN   AMERICA. 


399 


ravages  of  small-pox  and  the  introduction  of  ardont  spirits,  wcro 
terribly  diminished  in  number.  His  influence  had  been  wisely  and 
huinanely  exerted  to  check  hostilities  among  the  Indians,  and  the 
result  hud  been  favourable  to  the  peace  of  the  colony  itself 

The  Count  de  Frontenac,  who,  in  1«72,  succeeded  De  Courcelles 
built,  in  the  same  year,  the  ii'iportant  fort  which  bore  his  name  oil 
the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Kingston.     lie  was  an  able  soldier, 
ami  a  man  of  high  qualities;  but  violent  and  obstinate  in  the  prose- 
cution of  his  plans.     He  was  soon  involved  in  dispute  with  the 
clergy  and  with  the  inferior  officers  of  the  colony,  and  resorted  to 
extreme  measures  to  enforce  obedience.      "The  intcndant-general, 
M.  de  Chezneau,  having  neglected  some  orders,  was  imprisoned;  the 
procureur-general  was  exiled;    the  governor  of  Montreal  was  put 
under  arrest;  and  the  Abbe  de  Salignac  Fenelon,  at  that  time  in 
Canada,  superintending  the  seminary  of  St.  Sulpicius  at  xMontrea! 
was  imprisoned,  under  pretence  of  having  preached  against  M.  de 
Frontenac."     In  one  point  of  controversy,  the  clergy,  to  their  hon- 
our, were  in  the  right— that  respecting  the  traffic  of  brandy  for 
furs  with  the  savages,  which  the  governor  insisted  on  continuing 
but  which,  through   the  influence  of  the  bishop,  was  finally  sup- 
pre.-ised  by  an  order  from  the  king.     After  remaining  in  oilice  for 
ten  years,  this  able  and  patriotic,  but  too  unscrupulous  man,  was 
recalled  to  France.     During  his  administration,  considerable' })ro- 
gress  was  made  in  discovery  and  settlement,  and,  in  especial,  the 
wonderful  expeditions  of  Marquette  and  La  Salle  resulted  in  the 
opening  to  mankind  of  a   region  the   most   important   in    North 
America.     (See  Louisiana.) 

Soon  after  the  accession  of  M.  de  la  Barre,  who  was  next  ap- 
pointed governor,  Indian  hostilities,  of  a  most  serious  nature,  were 
renewed.     The  English,  anxious  to  engross  the  trade  in  furs,  had 
formed  an  alliance  with  the  Iroquois  or  Five  Nation.s,  and  the  rivalry 
between  the  colonial  agents  involved  the  French  in  new  difficulty 
with  their  ancient  foes.     That  powerful  confederacy  had    recom- 
menced hostilities,  by  plundering  the  French  traders  who  were  sup- 
pljnig  the  rival  tribes  with  arms,  and  had  made  such  formidable 
preparations,  that  the  destruction  of  the  French  settlements  (at  this 
tniie  numbering  only  nine  thousand  inhabitants)  seemed  far  from 
improbable.    To  avert  or  anticipate  the  threatened  evil,  the  wvernor 
with  a  force  of  a  thousand  men,  marched  toward  their  country,  at  the 
same  time,  however,  making  overtures  of  peace  to  the  hostile  con- 


I'"  ■'  'f 


¥fMn 


•il)0 


THE  PKOrLK'8  BOOK   Ob'   IIISTUUY. 


I'l'donu!}'.     Sickness  broke  out  among  liis  troopH,  and  UMulorcd  the 
coniMiiind  unlit  for  sorvico;  yet,  wlien  he  met  (Jarangula,  tlio  old 
Hucliem  of  tlio  Onondagas,  witli  otlier  deputies  Irom  the  Five  Nations 
at    Kailioage,  on  Lake  Onlaric,  whciv  a  conlbrence  had    been  up- 
pointed,  ho  assumed  u  lofty  and  exacting  tone.     .Uecupitulatin"  tho 
injuries  received   by  the    French,   ho  demanded   satisfaclion,  and 
threatened  the  destruction  of  the  olleiiding  tribes,  in  event  of  refusal. 
The  speech  of  the  old  chief,  in  reply,  is  justly  considered — for  spirit 
jbr  satire,  and  forcible  expression — us  one  of  the  most  striking  spoci- 
mens  of  Indian  eloquence.     Having  heard  the  Krenchman  to  an  end 
he  took  two  or  tliree  turns  about  the  apartment,  then  stood  before 
the  goveinor,  and,  after  a  courteous  and  Ibrmal  preamble,  addres.sed 
him  thus: 

"  Vonondio,*you  must  have  believed,  when  yon  left  Quebec,  that 
the  sun  had  burnt  u[)  all  the  forests  which  render  our  country  inac- 
cessible to  the  French,  or  that  the  lakes  had  so  far  overflowed  the 
banks,  that  they  had  surrounded  our  ciustles,  and  that  it  was  impos- 
sible for  us  to  get  out  of  them.  Yes,  surely  you  must  have  dreamed 
so,  and  the  curiosity  of  seeing  so  great  a  wonder  has  brought  you  so 
far.  Now  you  are  undeceived,  since  1,  and  the  warriors  here  present 
are  como  to  assure  you  that  the  Senecas,  Cayugas,  Onondagas,  Onui- 
das,  and  ^^ohawks  are  yet  alive.  1  thank  you  in  their  name  for 
bringing  back  into  their  country  the  calumet  which  your  predecessor 
received  from  their  hands.  It  was  happy  for  you  that  you  left 
under  ground  that  murdering  hatchet  which  hat  been  so  often  dyed 
in  the  blood  of  the  French. 

"Hear,  Yonoiulio:  I  do  not  sleep;  I  have  my  eyes  open;  and  the 
sun  which  enlightens  me,  discovers  to  me  a  great  captain,  at  the 
head  of  a  company  of  soldiers,  who  speaks  as  if  he  were  dreamia". 
lie  says  that  he  only  came  to  the  lake  to  smoke  on  the  great  calumet 
with  the  Onondagas.  But  (Jarangula  .say.s,  that  he  sees  the  contrary; 
that  it  was  to  knock  them  on  the  head,  if  sickness  had  not  weakened 
the  arms  of  the  French.  1  see  Yonondio  raving  in  a  eainp  of  sick 
men,  whose  lives  the  Great  Spirit  has  saved  by  inflicting  this  sick- 
ness upon  them. 

"Hear,  Yonondio:  our  women  had  taken  their  club§,  our  ehililren 
and  old  men  had  carried  their  bows  and  arrow  s  into  the  heart  of  yoiu- 
camp,  if  our  warriors  had  not  disarmed  them  and  kept  them  back,     ; 

*  A  torni  jipplii'd  by  the  Indiana  to  the  governor  of  the  French,  us  that  of  Corlaer 
to  the  governor  of  tlie  English. 


TIIK    FKKNCII    IN    AMKHICA.  ^^^ 

tHai":::^^;::';:;;/;;;;;;^ 

thorn  on  tl.o  heu.l      (),u   v  In  '","   ^"''"^"'''  •'''*""''^  ^<""^^k 

i"viti>,gallproHcntU.a,:cM>t'rtZ    nt     /  ^'''"'  "'^'"•^'  "'"^ 

Lis  ex,K.,]i,L„,  the  .ov  ;.n      V  "n«-tKsfactory  torm.nation  of 

finding  the  e  .cn.y  J    ! '       ,f  "^  ^  ^"r"'^'  '^"^''-^  ^^e  war 

peopl.    with  equal  C,<  1    "f '"'■  '"'  '"^*  '''^''-piritoj 

i«o'"-  r.tlH.r,  and  C^ uf  'nagnan.nuty,  replied,  "Yonondio 

'^..H.ot,.e;;  ^^n.^!iZJz:!::z:rnlT  ^""^^ 

the  world,  mivo  ns  the  I.„h1  wi  •  ,       ""^  '""''''''^-     ■'Je  who  created 

tl'is  alllu,  the  den.ean  uTaC  .  t  "r!/""  '■'"'  "'''''''''■'  ^'^ 
t^e  ..i.lu..  advant.,e  Z  ^Inti  ^  ^  ^ ::!:;;:t^  ^i'l^  ^ 
Cither  nation.     Shrewdness  „..t;,  .    i      •  '^  I^^uroj.eans  of 

f.i::;;::w;i'-::r3.:;t;;:::ri'r™''''- 

.f  CI..1  p.rli„„.  '  ""'l'""'  ">  ^  k«P«  i»  P.'p.lud  remc-Bb™,,; 

Voi,.  III._26 


Jiut  of  Curluer 


,jj).j  TIIK   I'KtU'l.lC'H    lUloK    UK    IIIHTOUY. 


i!  If  A  V  T  }\  }\   ?. 

UN   NON  V  II,  l,K  (lOV  KIINdll,      ■  II  I  H  T  II  K  A  t"  II  Kll  V   TO  T  II  K  IIIIIi||'ii|h 

HKNKWKII    IIONTII.ITIKS         T  II  K  M' V    OKPHMK,        llltOKHN 

\\X    TKKACIIKIIY  — KXTIUOKUIN  AltV    HTUATAdKM    (IK    I,  K 

IIAT.    A    II  II  It  ON    Olll^l',  —  TKUIIIIII.K    INVAMION    II  Y   T  II  K 

IttOUllOIH.    A  N  It    MAHHAlMlK   OK   T  II  K    K  III':  N  0  II ,        l>  KM  • 

V  K  II  A  T  K  ('  0  N  l>  I  T  ION   OK  T  II  K  0  0  I.  0  N  Y  , 

N»>r  long  \\\\<'V  llio  «>x|u«»lifit>ii  of  l.a  Hmio,  ami  ilH  iliMMHliDiiH 
ivHull,  till'  M«n|uiM  ili<  Noiivilli',  willi  HHlronn;  ri^iiiroivi«iiii«iii,  iiniviMl 
in  t'lininlu  «?»  govoruurnonoriil.  Willi  two  lluniHantl  ti(io|is  lu«  |in). 
cooili^il  to  l'\»rl  «\ilaranui,  or  l-'ronliimo,  and  at  nni-o  nMicwcil  tim 
qMarn'l  Willi  llio  Iromiois,  on  tlio  rinoloiiM  |>r('li'\l  tlial.  llioy  Mloml  in 
tlio  wav  >>ril»M>oii\oisiom»riluu)thor  Aiiu>rican  Irilit's.  \,o\\\h  \\\'\ 
had  Koiit  a  oruol  and  nu'ansoidod  nMjiu'sl  lor  a  iiuniluTorwiurioiHor 
llii.s  ii'donl>t(<vl  nation  a«  slaves  lo  nuiii  liis  (.'iillcvs;  and  IK'  N.invilli>, 
tho  ruling  agvnl  ol'siwli  a  niastor,  iindor  various  pn-lciu'oH,  iinliuvii 
a  iinnil>t>r  of  tlio  lioniu>is  ohiol's  lo  nii'cl  liiiii  at  l''t>rl.  l''ni!iliMiiu\ 
wlioro  ihry  woro  nnnn>dial»'lv  soi/.tvl,  loaded  willi  irons,  and  iiis|mlclii'(l 
lo  Ki-aiii'o.  Tins  tieaolionMis  deed,  the  cltMiial  dishonour  of  nil  con- 
oornoil  in  il,  again  lil  np  llic  ilamo  of  n'vonge  among  tin-  mjiiivil 
nation;  tluM'onnIn-  was  ravagvd  »n>und  tlu<  loil,  and  a  Kfoia-li  visxcl, 
on  I  alxo  Ontario,  ladon  with  stoiw  and  provisions,  was  oa|>tiiivtl  liy 
a  gi'wit  \W\  ot'ianoos,  'I'ho  gov«M'nor,  with  a  fywvi-  of  tliriv  tiioiisainl 
Kivin-hand  Indians,  inaivln'd  into  ihoSoncv'a  coniiliv,  Inil  wasciiaMoii 
to  luring  tho  oiumhv  inloaotion  only  onco,  wlu-n,  viwiiig  to  tlio  iiiti'iior- 
itv  ot"  thoir  uund>or,  tliov  woiv  doll'ali'd.  Nt-vcrtlioli'ss,  a  fort  wliioli 
tho  g\>vornv>r  had  onvlod  at  Niagara,  was  dcHtiovcd,  and  Froiili-iKu- 
itsoll"  was  hosiogod,  Kiv  long,  twohi'  liuiulivd  warnoi-s  wtMV  within 
a  short  distiuivv  ot"  NKnitival.  and.  appivhonding  tlio  iinmoiliiilo 
dostnvotion  ot' that  sottUMnonl.  tho  lalso  hoartovl  govornor  listonoii  to 
o\ortn»\\s  tor  )>oaiV,  'I'lio  Itwpiois  dopntios,  pn>ttH't(>d  hv  livo  liiui- 
diYvl  warrioi-s.  assumed  a  K't\y  tono;  and  IV  Nonvillo,  toiwd  to 
^vmply  with  thoir  OvMuhtions,  agtvod  to  stMul  at  onoo  for  thoir  oliiofs 
whv>  had  Invn  shippod  xo  Vvwkw  and  woiv  thon  ohainod  to  tlio  p!- 
lo\s  ot"  l.oviis  \IV.     An  o\travM\linary  pitw  of  tivachory  muI  i-uii- 


IM  I  111)11  IMIIN 

—  II  II  0  K  K  N 
M    tlK     |,K 

II  Y   T  II  K 

—  IlKM 


Im    lliHllHtlitllH 

iiiciit,  iirrivml 
nopH  lii«  pro. 

llii'v  Mtooil  in 
Imiis  XIV, 
il'wuiriofNol' 
Oi'  Nonvilli', 
lii'CH,  iiidiuvd 
1.   l'V(>iitt'iiiu\ 

lul(liH|>iltf||0(i 

Mf  111'  all  I'on- 
•;  llu>  uijmvil 
'"roiu'h  vfssi't, 
I  oaplmvil  liy 
iivo  tlionsaiiil 
It  \va8  0iiiil>lod 
[>  tl>o  iiilfridr- 
,  !i  fort  wliii'h 
ml  KrontriKU' 
"s  woro  willim 
u"  immtHiiato 
or  listoiu'tl  to 
by  llvo  liiiii- 
111',  t'onvtl  to 
>r  thoir  oil  ids 
otl  to  the  pi'- 

\IM'V  IA\k\  ouii- 


401 


THE  PEOPLE'S  nOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


revenge  by  the  destruction  of  the  French  settlements.  The  Iroquois 
beHeved  Le  Hat;  and  his  apparent  elenienoy  in  setting  them  at  lib- 
erty so  i'ully  persuaded  them  of  hi.s  sincerity,  that  they  assured  bin. 
that  the  Five  Nations  would  immediately  ratify  such  terms  of  peace 
with  the  Ilurons  as  they  might  the.,  agree  upon.  lie  then  gave  tbem 
fusils,  powder,  and  ball,  to  defmid  them  on  their  way  back;  and, 
under  the  pretence  of  replacing  one  man  whom  he  had  lost  in  attack- 
ing the  Iroquois,  he  retained  an  Indian  of  the  Chouanan  tribe,  with 
whom  he  returned  to  Makilimakinak. 

"This  unlbrtunate  prisoner,  who  believed  himself  safe,  from  Le 
Eat  telling  the  Iroquois  that  he  would  retain  him  as  an  adopted  son, 
was  delivered  to  tlie  French  commandant  of  that  post,  who  was  still 
ignorant  of  the  proceedings  of  M.  de  Nonville,  and  who,  through 
the  statements  made  by  Le  Hat,  condemned  the  unhappy  wretch  to 

be  shot. 

i'Le  Rat  had  an  old  Iroquois  slave,  for  a  long  time  in  his  posses- 
sion, to  whom  he  afforded  the  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  execution 
of  his  adoi)ted  countryman  by  the  French,  all  the  circumstances  of 
which,  however,  he  carefully  concealed  from  him.  He  then  told 
the  Iroquois,  'I  now  give  you  your  liberty;  return  to  your  country, 
and  there  spend  the  remainder  of  your  days  in  peace.  Relate  to 
your  people  the  barbarous  and  unjust  conduct  of  the  French,  who, 
while  they  are  amusing  your  nation  with  offers  of  peace,  seize  every 
opportunity  of  betraying  and  murdering  you;  and  that  all  my  per- 
suasions could  not  save  the  life  even  of  one  man  of  your  tribe,  whom 
I  adopted  to  replace  the  warrior  I  lost  at  the  cascades.' 

"The  Iroquois  returned  to  his  country,  and  related  what  be  had 
witnessed,  together  with  all  that  Le  Rat  had  told  him.  The  Iroquois 
warriors,  as  might  be  anticipated,  were  even  before  this  sufficiently 
exasperated;  but  this  last  stroke  of  Le  Rat's  policy  made  their  very 
blood  boil  furiously  for  revenge;  yet  they  dissembled  their  feelings 
of  resentment  so  completely,  that  M.  de  Nonville  (who  declared  tiiat 
he  would  hang  Le  Rat  whenever  he  could  be  captured)  still  expected 
dei)uties  from  the  Iroquois  to  ratify  a  peace." 

These  de})uties  presently  arrived  at  the  island  of  Montreal  in  the 
shape  of  twelve  hundred  warriors,  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  inflamed 
to  madness  by  fury  and  revenge.  All  the  houses  and  corn-fiehU  of 
the  settlement  were  burned;  men,  women,  and  children  were  massa- 
cred indiscriminately;  a  hundred  regular  troops,  with  a  small  force 
of  Huron  allies,  were  defeated  and  cut  to  pieces;  and  the  triumphant 


Tlie  Iroquois 
ig  them  at  lib- 
ey  assured  hiu. 
terms  of  peace 
then  gave  tliem 
vay  back;  and, 
id  lost  in  attaclc- 
inan  tribe,  with 


THE  FRENCH   IN    AMERICA. 


405 


enemy,  having  laid  waste  the  island  with  fire  and  sword,  and  having 
lost  only  three  of  their  number,  departed,  carrying  off  two  hundred 
prisoners,  reserved  for  death  and  torture.  Nearly  a  thousand  of  the 
French  aro  said  to  have  perished  or  been  captured  in  this  terrible 
invasion.  The  governor  found  it  impossible  to  disabuse  tL  offended 
tribes  of  their  belief  in  his  treachery,  thus  reaping  in  full  the  bitter 
fruits  of  his  original  perfidy.  The  war  was  continued,  and  famine 
and  disease  were  added  to  the  calamities  of  the  French.  Fort  Niag- 
arc  and  Fort  Frontenac  were  successively  abandoned  by  their  garri- 
sons, and  the  unfortunate  colony,  devastated  by  pestilence,  involved  in 
war  with  the  English,  and  exposed  to  the  still  more  terrible  ravages 
of  Indian  hostility,  seemed  reduced  to  an  almost  desperate  condition. 


e  in  his  posses- 
ng  the  execution 
nrcinnstances  of 
lie  then  told 
to  your  country, 
eace.  Relate  to 
he  French,  who, 
icace,  seize  every 
that  all  my  per- 
y^our  tribe,  whom 
es.' 

ted  what  he  liad 
11.  The  Iroquois 
this  sufficiently 
made  their  very 
ed  their  t'eelings 
/ho  declared  tiiat 
•ed)  still  expected 

Montreal  in  the 
;th,  and  inflameil 
md  corn-fieldn  of 
dren  were  massa- 
ith  a  small  force 
id  the  triumphant 


I  CHAPTEH?!. 

i 

I 

I     REAPPOINTMENT  OP  M.  DE  FRONTEN  AC— NEGOTIATIONS  WITH 
;         THE  IROaUOIS.  —  DESTRUCTION   OP    SCHENECTADY,    ETC, 

I  —UNSUCCESSFUL  EXPEDITION  OP  PH1PP8  AGAINST 

QUEBEC. — RENEWED  WARS  WITH  THE  IROQUOIS. 
— EXPEDITION  OF  PRONTENA(;. 

In  this  extremity,  it  was  found  absolutely  indispensable,  that  a 
man  of  the  first  order  of  talents  should  be  placed  at  the  head  of 
alliiirsiii  Canada;  and  the  Count  de  Frontenac,  whose  former  ad- 
ministriitiou,  though  self-willed  and  arbitrary,  had  been  marked  by 
enterprise,  energy,  and  policy,  was  at  once  reinstated  in  the  office  of 
governor.     (1689.)     He  brought  with  him  to  America  the  Iroquois 
chiefs,  so  treacluirously  seized  by  his  predecessor,  and  such  was  the 
fascination  of  his  manners,  that  he  completely  won  their  friendship 
-Oureouhar(5,  the  principal  of  them,  ever  after  remaining  stronglv 
attaclicl  to  his  person.     By  the  advice  of  that  chief,  he  sent  four  of 
thein  as  a  deputation  to  their  people,  with  overtures  of  peace;  and 
the  friendly  adviser,  adding  a  persuasive  niossage,  announced  his 
nitention  not  to  quit  the  count  till  tho  affair  was  satisfactorily  adjusted. 
But  the  hostile  nation,  embittered  by  ancient  wrong,  and  haughty 
with  recent  triumph,  replied  iu  lofty  terms.     The  tree  of  peace,  they 
said,  planted  by  Yonoiidio  Uhe  governor)  at  Frontenac,  had  been 


40(5 


THE    PKUl'LK'8    HOe)K    OK   11I8T0UY. 


i 


wiitereil  witli  blood  and  polluted  by  treachery.     Let  atonement  be 
inade,  and  all  tlio  cai)tives  bo  delivered,  and  he  might  then  "plant 
again  the  tree  of  peace,  but  not  in  the  same  spot."     Hostilities  were 
presently  renewed,  and  Frontenac,  perceiving  how  greatly  tI\o  enomv 
were  encouraged  by  the  alliance  and  instigation  of  the  English  (now 
at  oj)on  war  with  France,)  resolved  to  make  the  latter  feel   in  turn 
the  terrors  of  savage  enmity.     An  expedition,  which,  in  ItiiH)   ho 
iitted  out  from  Quebec,  consisting  of  a  hundred  French,  and  a.  fbrcc, 
of  Indian  allies,  surprised  Schenectady,  then  the  frontier  town  of  tho 
New  York  settlements.     Si.\ty-three  of  the  inhabitanla  were  massa- 
cred, and  tho  rest  carried  prisoners  into  Canada.     The  English  vil- 
lage of  Sementela  was  also  surprised  and  destroyed  by  another  party 
and  the  Iroquois  in  their  turn  also  met  with  a  signal  defeat.    'J'Ihh 
active  and  cruel  policy  coniirmeii  tho  latter  in   their  hatred    hut 
increased  the  fidelity  and  attachment  of  tho  Ilurons,  Ottawa'^  and 
other  Jndian  allies  of  the  French,  who  rejoiced  in  the  return  and  tho 
bharp  measures  of  "their  great  father,"  the  count. 

In  tho  same  year  (1(590)  an  expedition  of  thirty-four  vtissels  fitted 
out  for  the  conquest  of  Quebec,  under  Sir  William  Pliipps,  sailed 
from  Boston,  and,  having  captured  all  the  ports  of  Newfoundland  and 
Acadia,  entered  the  St.  Lawrence.     On  learning  this  disastrous  news 
the  count  hastened  to  put  the  town  in  a  stale  oi'  defence,  and  perenin- 
torily  rejected  a  summons  to  surrender,  which  the  English  connnauder 
dispatched  in  advance  of  his  fleet.   On  the  18th  of  October,  theKii<'lisli 
sustaining  mueli  loss  from  tho  sharp  shooting  of  their  enemies  dis- 
end)arked  near  the  river  St.  Charles,  not  far  from  the  city.    An  action 
ensued,  in  which  the  assailants  had  at  fin^^t  the  advantage,  but  were 
iinally  re]mlsed  by  the  garrison,  though  the  latter  were  very  inferior 
both  in  nund)er  and  appointments.     The  English  were  finally  com- 
pelled to  abandon  tin;  attempt,  and  to  reembark,  leaving  their  cannon 
and  ammunition.     Despite  this  mortilying  result,  there  is  little  doubt 
that  Phipps,  from  the  viu?t  superiority  of  his  forces,  both  military  and 
naval,  by  a  well-directed  attack,  could  have  carried  the  place;  and  the 
French,  it  is  said,  devoutly  returned  thanks  to  God  for  having,  by  a 
special  providence,  deprived  the  enemy  of  common  sense.     On  the 
2;5d  the  hostile  lleet  sailed  down  tho  river,  and  seven  or  eight  of  the 
vessels  were  soon  after  lost  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

The  Iroquois,  the  next  yestr,  renewed  hostilities,  landing,  with  a 
thousand  warriors,  on  the  i.sland  of  Montreal,  burning  houses,  and 
carrying  oil'  prisoners,  whom  they  put  to  death  with  cruel  tortures. 


THE  FKENCIl   IN    AMKKH'A. 


407 


;  Otlicr  incursions  were  made,  and  in  the  skirn.i.shcs  which  ensued 
many  hvcs  were  lost  on  botl.  sidcs-among  tlii^ni,  those  of  several 

,  French  olliccrs  of  high  rank;  and  the  French  at  last,  by  way  of 
retaliation,  almost  vied  with  the  savages  in  the  cruelties  inflicted 

:  on  tl.eir  eiiptives.  Under  their  famous  chief,  Black  Kettle  the  Iro- 
quois made  continual  forays  into  tlic  Krencli  territory  rendering 
seed-time  and  harvest  extremely  dangerous,  making  the  forts  the  onW 
phux-s  of  safety,  and  boasting  that  their  enemies  should  have  no  rest 
except  in  the  grave.  Nevertheless,  Krontenac,  by  his  unremitting 
vigilance  and  vigour,  so  far  kept  them  at  bay,  that,  in  1092  the 
cultivation  of  the  land  was  resumed,  and  the  trafrie  in  furs  once 
more  renewed. 

Two  years  afterwards,  the  hostile  tribes  made  overtures  of  pe-.c' 
and  Oureouharf-',  who  went  into  their  country,  returned  with  thirteen 
French  prisoners,  some  of  them  persons  of  distinction,  who  had  lon.r 
been  held  in  captivity;  but  owing  to'the  insidious  interference  of 
the  English,  nothing  .J  importance  was  finally  efleeted.     The  next 
year  (1095)  Fort  Catnratpii,  or  Frontenne,  w'hich   had  been   aban- 
doned and  destroyed,  was  rebuilt,  and  in  June  of  1090  the  French 
hiivnig  mustered  all  their  forces-regular,  provincial,  and  Indian-' 
made  a  grand  invaHion  of  the  enemy's   country.      "De  Callieres 
loriunanded  the  left  wing,  the  Chevalier  de  Vaudreuil  the  right- 
while  the  count,  then  seventy-six  years  of  age,  was  carried  in  the 
centre  m  an  elbow-chair."     No  warriors,  however,  appeared  to  oppose 
the  march  of  this  f<HTnidable  force,  and  the  principal  fort  of  the  Five 
Nations  was  found  already  reduced  to  ashes.     Only  a  single  prisoner 
was  taken,  an  aged  warrh.r,  nearly  a  hundred  years  ohCwhom  the 
I'rench,  with  almost  inconceivable  barbarity,  delivered  to  their  sav- 
age allies  to  be  tortured  to  death.     With  unmoved  fortitude    ho 
endured  their  utmost  cruelty,  deriding  them  to  the  last  us  shvves  of 
a  contemptible  race  of  intruders.     Nothing  of  moment  was  accom- 
plished by  this  expedition,  the  Iroquois  retreating  without  ofFerin.r 
battle  during  the  advance,  but  harassing  the  invaders  severely  on 
their  return.  '' 

They  prosecuted  the  war  with  vigour,  but  with  tlieir  allies,  the 
I'^nghsh,  met  with  repeated  disasters;  and  the  fiim'ous  Black  Kettle 
was  surprised  and  killed  while  hunting,  by  a  party  of  Algonquins 
Negotiations  for  peace  were  again  opened,  but  were  retarded  by  the 
death  ot  Oureouhar,'.,  the  friendly  mediator  between  his  countrymen 
and  the  F rench.    The  peace  between  France  and  England,  conelndod 


L__ 


408 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   HISTORY. 


in  1698,  opened  the  way  for  a  more  successful  attempt,  and  a  jeal- 
ousy against  the  EnglLh,  lately  sprung  up  among  the  Iroquois 
furthered  the  advancement  of  the  project.  Just  as  the  neo'otiatiou 
was  being  concluded,  on  the  29th  of  November,  1698,  the  Count  de 
Frontenac  died,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  yeans,  twenty  of  which 
had  been  passed  in  Canada,  during  an  administratitm,  from  important 
and  interesting  incidents,  the  most  memorable  in  the  history  of  that 
province.  Though  the  commencement  of  his  official  career  was 
marked  by  violence  and  self-will,  yet,  with  little  assistance  from  the 
mother-country,  he  had  preserved  a  colony  which  he  found  on  the 
verge  of  destruction,  and  ore  its  close  he  had  regained  the  confidence 
of  the  king,  the  respect  of  his  subordinates,  and  in  a  great  measure 
the  esteem  and  good-will  of  the  long-hostile  savages. 


CH'APTEH   ?IL 

DE  CAI.LIERES.  —  PEACE  WITH  THE  IttOQUOIS. — SINGULAR  RESOLU- 
TION OF  THE  FRENCH  PRISONERS. — DE  VAUDREUIL. — EXPEDITION 
AGAINST  CANADA:    DISCONCERTED  BY  THE  IROQUOIS — UNSUC- 
CESSFUL EXPEDITION  OF  NICHOLSON. TREATY  OF  UTRECHT. 

EXTENSION  AND  IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE  PROVINCE, — DE 

BBAUHARNOIS. —  PEACE  AND  PROSPERITY  OF  CANADA. 

The  office  of  governor,  left  vacant  by  the  death  of  Frontenac,  was 
conferred  on  De  Callieres,  an  able  officer,  who  had  been  commandant 
of  Montreal,  and  who  was  high  in  jfiivour  with  the  Indian  allies  of 
the  French.  It  is  said  that  on  war  parties  and  other  solemn  occasions 
he  would  dance  the  war-dance  with  them,  brandishing  his  hatchet 
and  enacting  all  the  savage  pantomime  of  a  warrior  bound  against 
his  foes.  His  administration  was  marked  by  excellent  prudence  and 
policy;  and  by  the  year  1700,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  finally  effected 
with  the  Five  Nations,  for  so  many  years  involved  in  such  deadly 
hostility  with  the  Canadians.  Numerous  prisoners,  on  both  sides 
were  restored;  but,  singularly  encgli,  while  the  savages  souf^ht 
their  forest-homer-  with  eagerness,  "  the  greater  part  of  the  French 
captives  were  found  to  have  contracted  such  an  attachment  to  the 
wild  freedom  of  the  woods,  that  neither  the  commands  of  the  king 


;»fc'«.ii..iii 


THE  FRENCH   IN   AMERICA. 


409 


nor  the  tears  and  entreaties  of  their  friends  could  induce  them  to 
quit  the  savage  associates  with  whom  they  were  united  " 

The  memorable  war  waged  by  Louis  XIV.  for  the  oppression  of 
Europe,  and  its  disastrous  results  to  the  French,  at  Blenheim  Ramil- 
hcs,  and  other  defeats,  left  the  Canadian  colonies  dependant  on  their 
own  resources;  and  the  death  of  the  able  De  Callieres,  which  occur- 
red  in  1  <  03,  was  a  misfortune  which  was  severely  felt.  "  His  loss  was 
great  to  Canada;  and  although  his  powers  of  mind  wanted  the 
splendid  points  which  cast  such  brilliant  lustre  on  the  government 
of  M  de  Frontenac,  yet,  from  his  great  excellence  of  character  he 
:  was  beloved  and  respected  by  all;  and  having  never  violated  his 
word  to  the  Indians,  he  always  retained  their  impli.it  conHdence." 
The  Count  de  Vau.lreuil,  agreeably  to  the  general  wish  of  the  people 
was  appointed  to  succeed  him.  ' 

The  English  now  confident  of  expelling  their  rivals  from  Amer- 
ica,  called  on  the  Iroquois  to  renew  hostilities ;  but  that  high-spirited 
people,  with  honourable  feeling,  replied  that  when  they  made  a 
treaty  they  did  so  to  keep  it ;  whereas  the  English  and  the  French 
seemed  to  do  so  only  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  it;  and  one  chief 
plainly  intimated  his  opinion  that  both  nations  were  drunk      Some 
minor  hostile  operations  having  occurred,   the  EncrlJsh    in   1709 
dispatched  a  groat  force  from  New  York  to  eifect  the  conquest  of 
Canada;  and  a  large  body  of  Iroquois  and  Michigans,  according  to 
requisiton,  joined  the  expedition.     A  singular  story  is  told  of  the 
artful  means  used  by  the  latter  to  disconcert  the  project  of  their 
allies.     A  force  dispatched  by  the  governor  to  interrupt  their  pro- 
gress having  failed  to  accomplish  its  object,  and  the  English  bein-^ 
exultant  with  the  prospect  of  success,  an  Iroquois  chief  harangued 
his  countrymen  on  the  impolicy  of  permitting  the  latter  to  com- 
plctoly  overwhelm  their  enemies.     "What  will  become  of  us"  he 
said,  'It  we  destroy  the  French,  who  keep  the  English  in  check? 
rhe  latter  will  then  assuredly  crush  us,  in  order  to  possess  our  coun- 
try.   Let  us  not,  therefore,  foolishly  bring  certain  ruin  on  ourselves 
merely  to  indulge  our  passions  or  please  the  English.     Let  us  rathe,' 
leave  the  Irencli  and  English  in  a  position  which  will  make  either 
ot  them  set  a  high  value  on  our  friendship." 

The  allied  army  halted  on  the  bank  of  a  small  river,  waitin..  for  , 
artillery  and  ammunition,  and  the  Iroquois  busied  themselve°s  ia  ' 
liuiiting-casting,  U  is  said,  the  skins  of  various  wild  beasts  into  the  ! 
stream  above  the  encampi  ent,  and  thus  poisoninir  its  wator-  to  the       ' 


|!l 


i 
i. 


mf. 


410  T"^  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 

great  detriment  of  their  English  confederates.     This  story,  so  often 

repeated  by  historians,  may  foirly  be  doubted,  both  on  grounds  of 

moral  probability  and  physical  possibility;  but  it  is  certain  that  a 

llual  disease,  carrying  off  many  of  the  whites,  appeared  in  the 

camp,  and  that  this,  with  the  want  of  cordial  cooperation  among 

their 'indian  auxiliaries,  caused  them  to  relinquish  the  enterprise 

and  return  to  New  York.     A  second  expedition  of  a  formidable 

nature,  under  General  Nicholson,  in  1710,  was  dispatched  against 

Canada;  but  that  commander,  learning  that  a  fleet  destined  to  aid 

his  operations  and  besiege  Quebec,  had  been  dispersed,  with  the  loss 

of  eight  large  vessels,  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  attempt  and 

retrace  his  steps.     The  treaty  of  Utrecht,  in  1713,  restored  peace  to 

the  contending  nations,  though  only  by  the  cession  to  the  English 

of  Acadia  and  Newlluu'.dland.     That  the  French,  unassisted  by  the 

mother-country,  should  have  been  able  to  retain  their  possessions  in 

Canada  .gainst  the  overwhelming  forces  of  their  allied  enemies,  is 

something^wonderful;  for  there  were  at  this  time  only  four  thousand 

five  hundred  men,  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixty,  capable 

of  bearing  arms,  in  the  whole  province;  while  the  effective  force  of 

their  rivaTs  was  about  sixty  thousand.     This  improbable  result  was 

due  in  part  to  the  valour  and  genius  of  their  officers,  in  part  to  the 

incapacity  and  sluggishness  of  the  English  commanders,  and  still 

more,  no  doubt,  to  the  strength  of  their  position  and  the  inhospitable 

nature  of  the  climate  and  the  country. 

During  the  remainder  of  De  Vaudreuil's  administration,  which 
lasted  tilt  his  death  in  1725,  the  colony  enjoyed  peace  and  prosper- 
ity, and  cultivation  and  traffic  were  extended.  For  the  twenty-one 
years  in  which  he  held  office,  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his  gov- 
ernment and  the  deserved  attachment  and  esteem  of  the  people 
committed  to  his  charge. 

The  Chevalier  de  Beauharnois,  who  succeeded  him,  also  held  the 
ofTicc  of  governor  for  twenty  years— a  period  which,  under  his  active 
attention  to  the  interests  of  the  province,  was  characterized  by 
marked  improvement  and  extension  of  colonization.  From  Quebec 
to  Montreal  the  St.  Lawrence  was  now  fringed  with  cultivated  farms; 
the  important  fortress  of  Crown  Point,  with  others,  was  erected  for  the 
protection  of  the  province,  and  the  settlement  at  Detroit  was  raised  into 
some  importance.  The  enmity  in  which  the  Freiicli  had  so  long  been 
involved  \N  ii.h  various  powerful  tribes  of  TndiaiK- ,  was  now  overcome; 
and  the  amiable  and  courteous  manners  of  ^nc  former,  and  their  fre- 


>w  overcome; 


THE  FRENCH   IN   AMERICA.  ^,  ^ 

qucnt  intermarriages  with  the  natives,  had  secured  them  the  friend- 


CHAPTER   YIIL 

^      ENCROACHMENTS  OP  THE   PRENCH.-PORT   DU   QOSNE  -THE 

DEATH.  — COLONEL   WASH  INOTON.— Jix  I'E  D  I  HON  AGAINST 
I  CROWN  POINT.-DKPEAT  OF   DIES  K  AU.-THE   M  tl  QI  is 

DE  MONTCALM:   HIS  SHCC  ESSES  -0  REAT   EXERTIONS 

OP   THE   ENGLISH:   THE,  R   SUPERIOR    PORCE-Te 
PEAT    OP    ABERCROMBIE    AT    TICONDEROCA. 

n4?ri7r''''''"  "^  governors,  after  the  death  of  Beauharnois 
1-40,)  he  d  the  province  of  Canada,  the  Marquis  Du  Quesne  I^ 

f  urth  of  them,  arriving  in  1752.     This  able  and  ambitious  offil  of 
he  crown  pursued  a  steady  system  of  encroachment  on  the  Eng  is, 
olomes,  and  even  erected  a  fort,  bearing  his  own  name,  witliwt 
on  mos  of  Virginia.     General  alarm  was  excited  among  th      iv  d 

S  T  \  I  r"'"'-'^  '''"  ^""'  ''"^  ^'^^''y  increased^i  popul  - 
.on,  the  inhabitants,  it  was  said,  numbering  ninety  thousa.fd      In 
1500  the  marquis  was  succeeded  by  De  Vaudreuif  Cavagn  1 "  an 

!n^::^^^  '^  ^'T  ^^--b'-^^'-  French-lmeri::' 
uais  broke  out.      Ihe  unfortunate  General  Braddock    a  min  of 

grea  energy  and  bravery,  but  obstinate  and  wrong-h  Lied  "    the 

cad  of  twenty-two  hundred  regular  and  provinciaUroo      it  o    1 

on  an  exi.ed.tion  against  the  French  on  the  Ohio.     Thetl<^^!Z 

an    anillery  being  delayed  by  the  roughness  of  the  c  u.u^  h 

pushed  ahead  witli  thirteen   hundred  picked  men,   despising' te 

a  nings  of  danger  which  he  received  from  those  better  acquainted 

h  the  coun.ry  and  the  system  of  warfare.     He  had  approached 

Mthm  five  indes  of  Fort  I.i  Qnesne,  and  was  just  crlng    he 


412 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


MonongaheLn,  when  a  deadly  fire  was  opened  on  his  ranks  by  a  force 
,  of  two  hundred  French  and  six  hundred  Indians,  lurking  in  the 
covert  of  a  wood.     The  main  body  hastened  up,  with  the  artillery 
and  Braddock  used  every  exertion  to  inspirit  his  men.     Five  horses 
were  shot  under  hirn,  and  he  soon  fell,  with  a  mortal  wound.    Sixty 
of  his  officers  were  killed  or  disabled;  and  his  troops,  falling  on  all 
sides  from  the  fire  of  their  invisible  opponents,  were  thrown  into 
hopeless   panic  and    confusion.      The    provincials,   under  Colonel 
Washington,  a  young  officer  who  had  accompanied  Braddock  as  aid 
alone  made  effectual  resistance,  and  covered  the  retreat  of  the  dis- 
comfited regulars.     On  this  terrible  occasion,  the  loss  of  the  English 
in  killed  and  wounded  was  seven  hundred  men,  while  that  of  the  en- 
emy was  only  about  sixty.     The  expedition  was  entirely  abandoned. 
In  the  same  year  an  army  of  six  thousand  men,  under  General 
Johnson,  was  dispatched  against  the  French  fortress  of  Crown  Point, 
on  Lake  Champlain.     To  oppose  this  force,  Baron  Dieskau,  with 
two  thousand  men,  was  sent  from  Montreal,  and  after  passing  to  the 
upper  extremity  of  Lake  Champlain,  landed  his  troops,  and  marched 
toward  the  camp  of  the  enemy.     In  a  narrow  defile  he  defeated  a 
large  force  of  English  and  Mohawk  Indians,  sent  in  advance  to  inter- 
cept him,  and  then  proceeded  to  assault  the  English  camp.     It  was 
however,  protected  by  a  breastwork  of  fallen  trees,  and  by  an  almost 
impenetrable  swamp.     The  assailants  were  repulsed,  with  the  less 
of  a  thousand  men,  and  the  survivors  retreated  to  Crown  Point. 
Dieskau,   mortally  wounded,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English. 
Nevertheless,  the  successful  general  did  not  proceed  against  Crown 
Point;    and   even   suffered  the    French   to   fortify   tliemselves  at 
Ticonderoga. 

In  the  two  succeeding  years  (1756,  1757)  the  gallant  Marquis  de 
iloiitcalm,  placed  at  the  head   of  military  affairs  in  Canada,  gained ' 
a  series  of  brilliant  successes,  ending  with  the  reduction  of  Forts 
Oswego  and  William  Henry.     The  garrison  of  the  latter,  two  thou- 
sand in  number,  after  the  surrender,  were  attacked  by  the  Indians 
of  Montcalm's  army,  and  a  number  were  killed ;  but  the  reports  of 
the  massacre  appear  to  have  been  extraordinarily  exaggerated.    Most     ] 
of  the  command  found  protection  in   the  French  camp,  and  the     ; 
greater  part  of  the  remainder,  who  fled  into  the  woods,  reached  Fort     ] 
Edward  in  safety.     At  the  close  of  this  period,  in  spite  of  the  exer-     i 
tions  of  the  English,  the  French  still  held  possession  of  nearly  all     \ 
the  disputed  territory,  except  Acadia;  and  a  long  chain  of  military     | 


>ks  by  a  force 
rkiiig  in  the 
the  artillery, 
Five  horses 
ound.    Sixty 
falling  on  all 
thrown  into 
ider  Colonel 
Idock  as  aid, 
it  of  the  dis- 
f  the  English 
lat  of  the  en- 
Y  abandoned, 
ider  General 
>own  Point, 
ieskau,  with 
assing  to  the 
xnd  inarched 
e  defeated  a 
.nee  to  inter- 
Tip.    It  was, 
)y  an  almost 
ith  the  less 
rown  Point, 
ho  English, 
ainst  Crown 
emselves  at 

Marquis  de 
lada,  gnined ' 
on  of  Forts 
r,  two  thou- 
thc  Indians 
0  reports  of 
ated.  Most 
ip,  and  the 
cached  Fort 
3f  the  exer- 
f  nearly  all  j 
of  military     I 


i-  I     l!!f 

■  . 

■ 
I 

i 

THE  FKENCJI  IN   AMEKICA, 


418 


posts,  oxtemhng  from  the  mouth  of  the  St.  "Lawrence  to  the  head- 
waters of  the  Ohio,  still  remained  ia  their  hands,  and  protected  their 
acquisitions      I  hey  had  driven  the  English  from  Lake  George  and 
coriipellf  d  the  Iroquois  to  observe  neutrality.    A  terrible  Indian  war 
was  also  devastating  the  north-western  frontier  of  the  British  colonies 
Lnder  the  vigorous  administration  of  Pitt,  however,  the  war  waa 
prosecuted  with  energy;  and  the  British- American  colonies,  stimu- 
lated by  his  promises  and  requisitions,  made  extraordinary  prepara- 
tions for  the  conquest  of  the  French  provinces.     Including  a  lar«e 
force  of  regulars  which  had  been  shipped  from  England,  the  entire 
levies  available  for  this  object  amounted  to  fifty  thousand  troops- 
vvhereas  the  whole  population  of  Canada,  capable  of  bearing  arms 
did  not  exceed  twenty  thousand.     The  first  operation  of  this  over- 
whelming force  waa  the  capture  of  the  strong  fortress  and  town  of 
Louisburg  (see  Cape  Breton,  Acadia,  &c.),  and  the  result  was  that 
the  entire  control  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  the  adjacent 
islands,  passed  finally  into  the  hands  of  the  English. 

Meanwhile,  General  Abercrombie,  with  sixteen  *  thousand  men 
passing  down  Lake  George,  made  a  fierce  assault  on  Ticondero-/ 
garrisoned  by  some  two  thousand  French  soldiers.  But  the  defences 
proved  much  stronger  than  had  been  supposed ;  and  after  a  desperate 
struggle,  lasting  for  four  hours,  and  the  loss  of  two  thousand  men 
in  killed  and  wounded,  the  British  commander  drew  off  his  forces 
and  retreated,  with  disorder  and  precipitation,  to  Fort  William 
Ilenry.  Fort  Fronteuac,  feebly  garrisoned,  was  not  long  after  taken 
T)y  a  force  of  English  provincials,  who,  however,  lost  five  hundred 
of  their  number  from  sickness.  Another  force  dispatched  against 
Fort  Du  Quesne,  after  meeting  with  some  reverses,  succeeded  in 
compelling  the  French  to  evacuate  that  important  post 


!;  f '  I 


414 


THE  l'EOPLK'8    BOOK   OF  1II8T0KY, 


LjlIxIi    xj!jiU    xJL» 


PIIEPAIIATIONS   POIl   THK  OONQUKST  OP  CANADA.  —  AllMAMENT 

ONDKll   WOLFE    I)  I  H  P  A  TC  II  K  I)   TO  UUEHKC.  —  DEFEAT   OF  THK 

FIIENCH     ON    THE    HEIOIITR    OF    ABllAHAM.  —  DEATH    OF 

WOI,FK    AND    MONTOAI.M.  —  8U  11 11  E  N  1)  E  11   OP    UUEIIEC:    HE- 

8IEUED     HY      DE     LEVI. CONCENTRATION     OF     THE 

ENGLISH     FORCES  — FALL     OP     MONTREAL     AND 
OF     CANADA:     CESSION     TO     ENGLAND. 


Encoituaokd  by  tlio  fall  of  r^juisburg,  and  exaaperated  by  defeat 
and  loss  in  otlitT  quarters,  the  English  now  made  extraordinary  ex- 
ertions for  the  linal  conquest  of  Canada.  (Jcncral  Amherst  with 
twelve  thousand  troops,  advanced  by  way  of  Lake  Chami)lain,  and 
the  important  stations  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  were  aban- 
doned by  the  French,  obliged  to  coiK^cntrate  their  comparatively 
Tcelile  forces  for  the  protection  of  Quebec.  To  attack  this  ancient 
capital  and  stronghold  of  the  Canadian  Freticli,  General  Wolfe,  a 
young  officer,  who  had  distinguished  himself  at  the  siege  of  Louis- 
burg,  was  entrusted  with  the  command  of  eight  thousand  men,  aided 
by  a  powerful  iieet,  with  which,  in  June,  1759,  he  made  his  appear- 
ance in  the  St.  Lawrence. 

The  brave  Montcalm  had  made  every  exertion  for  the  defence  of 
the  city,  and  had  concentrated  there  an  army  nearly  as  large  as  that 
of  the  enemy,  but  composed  mainly  of  Canadians  and  Lidians.  The 
supply  of  jirovisions  was  also  very  limited.  Wolfe  landed  on  the 
isle  of  Orleans,  and  first  attempted  the  French  camp  at  Montmorency, 
near  the  city,  the  fire  of  the  ships-of-war  covering  his  disembarka- 
tion. (,Tuly  31st.)  But  the  French,  strongly  posted,  and  lighting 
giillantly,  repulsed  the  assailants,  who  were  compelled  to  retire  with 
the  loss  of  an  hundred  and  eighty-two  killed,  and  more  than  six 
hundred  wounded. 

At  a  council  of  the  officers  of  the  invading  army,  it  was  now 
re.«olved  to  make  an  attempt  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  citv,  where 
the  lofty  heights  of  Abraham  present  their  almost  inaccessible  front 
upon  the  river.  To  mislead  the  enemy,  the  ships  moved  a  number 
of  miles  above  Quebec,  and  De  Bougainville,  who,  with  a  force  of  fif- 


THE  FRENCH   IN  AMEKIOA. 


415 


teen  hum  red  men,  had  been  dispatched  by  Montcahn  to  opposo  thorn 
deemed  by  this  rnanoouvre,  also  n>uved  up  the  river.  On  the  nighi 
of  the  12th  u  September,  the  vesHels,  droppi„g  Hilently  down  the 
Htream,  diHembarke.l  the  whole  force  of  Uritish  troops  at  VVoKb's 
Cove,  just  below  the  face  of  the  preeipifms  blun:  (Jraspinjr  the 
bushes  to  aid  their  perilous  ascent,  the  soldiers  succeeded  in  cVunhiuu 
to  the  surniMit,  and  on  the  plains  above  were  soon  arrayed  in  order 
of  hattlr  Monteahn,  on  learning  the  disastrous  intelligence,  at  .,nco 
IKTceivod  th.,t  nothing  but  an  immediate  victory  could  save  the  city 
and  marched  with  all  spcu'd  to  the  scene  of  action 

Some  fifteen  hundre.l  skirmishers  and  Indians,  who  arrived  first 
kept  up  a  desult<,ry  discharge  of  nmsk.try  from  the  bushes;  but  tl.e 
British  army  mostly  reserv.-d  its  fire  until  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy,  advancing  briskly,  had  approached  within  forty  yards  of 
their  lines.     Almo.st  at  the  first  volley,  both  generals  fell,  mortally 
wounded  an.I  the  French  were  immediately  thrown  into  Confusion 
1  cir  de  eat  was  completed  by  frequent  charges  of  the  bayonet.' 
aided  by  the  Highland  broadsword.     Wolfe,  carried  to  the  roar  am 
hcanng  the  cry,  "they  run,"  inquired  "who  run?"  and  being' told 
that  It  was  the  enemy,  gave  directions  for  ensuring  the  victory,  and 
exclaimed,  "Now,  God  be  praisedl  I  die  happy."     U.nlly  wVs  the 
battle  over,  when  De  Bougainville,  who  hurried  to  the  scene  of  ac- 
lon,  and  whose  presence  a  little  earlier,  might  have  changed  the 
fate  of  the  day,  appeared;  but  seeing  the  defeat  of  his  commander 
at  onee  retreated      On  the  18th,  the  city  capitulated  on  honourable 
terms  the  trench  troops  not  being  made  prisoners  of  war,  but  con- 
veyed  to  their  own  country. 

Amherst    who  had  taken  Crown   Point  and  Ticonderoga,   and  ' 

Johnson,  who  had  taken  Fort  Niagara,  were  unable,  from  the  late- 

.ness  of  the  season,  to  join,  according  to  the  plan  of  the  campaign 

Jie  victorious  forces  of  Quebec.     General  De  Levi,  now  the  ch'ie; 

Freeh  commander,  had,  meantime,  assembled  ten  thousand  troops 

Montrea    and  in  the  following  spring  (April  27th,  1760)  landin. 

iLTthr'^  ''  'rr"'""  "^  ''''  ^'''^^''  "^  Abraham,  and  lai3 
eg    to  the -city.     The  garrison,  under  General  Murray,  eon.sisted 

Iv  ha  If  oTtf  ""'  ^«'  '":■  «°-^q-"-  «f  the  ravages  of  scurvy, 
event  of  the  siege  doubtful,  resolved  to  anticipate  matters   and 
enemy  at  Sillery.     Overwhelmed   by  superior  numbers,   he   was 


*,  n 


416 


THE    PEOPLE'S    BOOK    OF    HISTOKY. 


repulsed  with  great  loss,  and,  retreating  to  Quebec,  directed  all  his 
energies  toward  putting  that  stronghold  in  a  state  of  defence.     The 
arrival  of  a  fleet,  under  Admiral  Scranton,  in  the  middle  of  May 
compelled  the  French  to  raise  the  siege. 

They  retreated  to  Montreal,  where  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil, 
having  concentrated  his  troops,  made  an  effort  to  hold  out  against 
the  combined  forces  of  General  Amherst  and  those  of  Quebec  and 
Niagara,  which  had  now  united  in  offensive  operations.  He  was 
compelled,  however,  on  the  8th  of  September,  of  the  same  year,  to 
sign  a  capitulation,  surrendering  the  city  and  the  whole  of  Canada 
to  the  British,  Very  liberal  terms  were  accorded  by  the  victors,  the 
free  exercise  of  the  Cath6lic  faith  being  guaranteed  to  the  inhabitants, 
and  the  property  of  the  religious  communities  preserved  inviolate 
By  the  treaty  of  Paris,  concluded  in  1763,  the  possession  of  Canada, 
as  well  as  of  the  other  conquered  provinces,  was  formally  ceded  by 
the  French  court  to  the  British  government. 


'Pm» 


ACADIA,    ETC. 


CHAP  TEE   I. 

EXPEDITION  OF  DE  MONTS  AND  CUkvvt  at.t 

''JiouaitiJAr,  —  THE  JESUITS  — SFTTr  pirr^TT- 
AT  MOUNT  DESERT:   EROXEN   UP  Ry    THE    ENOI       5 
DESTRUCTION  OF  PORT  KO  Y  AL.-aLEX  AN  DEr  ~ 

TOUR.-CESSIONS  AND  RECESSIONS  OF  ac^DU 
HOSTILITIES    OF    THE    ENGLISH    CoIoK    E     -T 
PIRATICAL  EXPEDITIONS.-FINAL  SURJEC- 
TION  OF  ACADIA  TO  THE  ENGLISH. 

msssssm 

the  beaut,  and  convenience  of  this  location,  Po^i.t  To"  oM 
companions,  was  so  charmed,  that  he  resolved  on  mkin.  L  som 
there,  naming  it  Port  Royal.  °    settlement 

De  Monts  next  discovered  the  rivpr  nf  Qf   t  i. 
of  the  bay,  and  immediately  I  ^^^^^        ^t    0;^  *^^  -«*  -d« 

-'and  at  the  mouth  of  which  he  reX  d  t  wlnte^    T,°"  "  ''"'" 
proved  unfavourable    nnd  ont  J'"'"^'^'/"  .^^"ter.     The  situation 


418 


THE   PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   IIISTOKY. 


L 


leaving  Champlain,  Pontgrav('',  and  Campdoro  in  command  of  the 
colony,  and  did  not  return  until  tlie  summer  of  1606.  In  August 
of  that  year  he  again  sailed  homeward.  The  settlement  owed  its 
existence,  in  these  early  days,  almost  entirely  to  the  perseverance 
and  sagacity  of  Lcscarbot,  a  lawyer,  who  had  accompanied  Potrin- 
court,  and  who  insisted  on  the  necessity  of  d(>pending  on  the  culti- 
vation of  the  soil  for  subsistence,  and  not  on  supplies  from  Europe, 
or  a  precarious  traffic  with  the  Indians.  The  succeeding  winter 
proved  mild,  and  the  colonists  employed  themselves  in  hunting  and 
in  building;  but,  with  the  spring,  arrived  the  disagreeable  news  tliat 
the  charter  given  to  De  Monts  had  been  revoked,  and  that  the  colony 
could  no  longer  depend  on  his  assistance. 

Potrincourt  now  sailed  for  France,  where  he  obtained  from  the 
king  a  grant  of  Port  Royal,  on  condition  of  taking  out  two  Jesuits, 
to  convert  the  savages.     These  gentlemen  he  strictly  excluded  frcT. 
any  share  in  the  management  of  the  colony,  informing  them  "that 
their  duty  was  limited  to  teaching  men  the  way  to  heaven,  and  that 
it  remained  for  him  to  govern  and  direct  those  under  him  on  earth." 
In  consequence  of  this  treatment,  they  dispatched  an  ill  account  of 
him  to  France;  and  in  1618  a  vessel  sent  from  that  country,  with 
two  more  priests  and  some  emigrants,  carried  away  the  Jesuits  from 
Port  Royal,  and  sailed  to  tlie  island  of  Mount  Desert,  not  far  from 
Penobscot  Bay.    Here  a  settlement,  named  St.  Saviour's,  was  founded, 
and  the  erection  of  buildings  was  commenced;  but  while  thus  en- 
gaged, the  peaceful  colonists  were  surprised  by  an  English  shin-of- 
wa'r,  under  Captain  Argall,  of  Virginia,  who  seized  all  their  property, 
and'  m.ide  them  prisoners.     One  of  the  Jesuits,  while  urging  Ids  peo- 
ple to  defend  themselves,  was  shot  through  the  head;  and  two  ves- 
sels, at  anchor  off  the  port,  were  seized,  in  one  of  which  a  part  (if 
the  colonists  were  sent  to  France,  and  the  rest  in  the  other  to  Yir-iiiiia. 
Despite  the  peace  existing  between  the  two  nations,  the  same 
piratical  commander,  in  1615,  again  set  forth  from  A'irginia  to  com- 
plete the  destruction  of  the  feeble  colonies  of  the  French.     Piloteil 
by  one  of  the  Jesuit;^,  he  iiroc(MHled  to  Port  Royal,  then  commanded 
by  Biencourt,  the  son  of  Potrincourt,  and  levelled  the  fort,  the  gov- 
ernor vainly  attempting  to  propitiate  liiin  by  negotiation  iUid  fair 
offers.     S(mie  of  the  French  fled  to  Canada,  some  joined  llic  native 
tribes,  and  the  rest  were  sent  prisoners  to  England.     "This  outrage- 
ous destruction  of  Port  Royal,"  says  an  I'higlish  author,  "during  a 
tine  of  profound  peace  between  England  and  h'riince,  coidd  never 


i«ft   i^KJt^tJl   IN   AMERICA. 


419 


prospenng  for  ten  year,  and  without  experiencing  a    hare  of  tb! 
ferocious  opposition,  from  the  nntivpo  ,„v  u  /  ""•* 

.nd  .raHin,  with  .he  na.^  ^^S    W    srlr''"''';-  ''T  "t^^ 
James  I.  liad  given  a  natent  of  LZ  ^l':^-»">fer,  to  whom 

«a,™a,,eaJ:„e.eeCr4rZ::[;::;^L^^^ 

with  a  French  C»lv,ni.,t,  nnmetl  Kireht  (Kirk)    he  «,iL   L  rt  ' 

province,  (where  Per,  Roya,  had  eon,„,e„ee.,  „  jj  "d  fe        ^ Vftt 

l:«:i;  'rii""'  °"'°'f '™'''"'»'  coined  r::rs 

settlement  and  lor  Quebec,  again  reduced  the  dIacp      TTo  r>,    i 
settlement,  however,  to  replace  those  whic^het Tdest;  f  a:; 
two  years  afterwards,  transferred  the  province  to  f  .  Ton  rT   ' 
Protestant,  who  had  formed  En.Iisli  com    ct  1      T^"     '       i''"''' 
P..eded  to  Nova  Scotia,  where  his  ^o^ZZ,]^: i:;^:Z 
t     French  at  Cape  Sable,  but  was  unable  to  enforce  his  sTbn  "in 

W1.-C  einof  Lihshment  „,"  „  tl  ^    ive    S        ,""7'"?.^^"  ''-""•. 


a  t 


Th(; 


L 


,-»».  of  l,i»  Ian*,  *c.,  fron,  ,h„°l,„n.,»  of  .£  1   :  ,,  ''    „,„ 

Whole  however,  bv  the  tronfi,- r,r  7^.   i  •        '"-""-'^'g"-      J  rie 


;i 


420 


TIIF.    PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  HISTORY. 


ni 


had  built  to  protect  their  mradows  from  the  sea.  In  1704,  that  ener- 
getic, but  cruel  and  unscrupulous  commander,  with  six  hundred 
troops,  made  a  second  piratical  excursion  from  New  England  to  the 
devoted  colony.  He  seized  all  the  property  and  burned  all  tiie 
houses  at  Passamaquoddy,  and  sent  an  expedition  in  boats,  which 
plundered  and  destroyed  three  thriving  villages  at  Minas.  The  fort- 
ress at  Port  Eoyal,  which  had  been  rebuilt,  proved  too  strong  for 
him,  and  after  sailing  up  the  Basin  of  Minas,  and  laying  waste  all 
the  settlements  there,  he  returned  with  his  plunder  to  Massachusetts. 
In  1707,  a  thousand  troops,  with  two  ships  of  war,  were  again  dis- 
patched from  New  England  against  Port  Koyal,  but  were  repulsed 
with  spirit  by  the  governor,  M.  Subercase;  and  a  second  attempt, 
afterwards  made  by  the  same  force,  proved  equally  futile. 

The  English,  their  pride  piqued  by  these  successive  failures,  now 
made  preparations  on  a  scale  which  should  ensure  success;  and  in 
1710  an  armament  consisting  of  nineteen  vessels,  bearing  five  regi- 
ments, under  command  of  General  Nicholson,  arrived  at  Port  Eoyal. 

The  troops  were  landed  and  batteries  were  erected;  and  after  a 
heavy  cannonade  on  both  sides,  the  brave  governor,  compelled  by 
superior  force,  capitulated  on  honourable  terms.  Acadia  thus  again 
came  finally  into  possession  of  the  English.  The  cruel  treatment  of 
the  inhabitants  and  their  lamentable  expulsion  from  their  homes  will 
be  briefly  described  iu  the  succeeding  chapter. 


\j     dj'M     JjM     (L        Jf       <XJ     (i>6  cb     iX  < 


ACCOUNT  OF  TIIE  ACADIANS.  —  TIIEIU  INXOCE.NCE,  SIMPJJCITT, 
AND  HAPPINESS. — DESCRIPTION  IIY  IIAYNAL. — ENMITY  OF 
THE    ENGLISH.  —  liASSACllE    AT    KENNEBEC;    REVENGED 
BY    THE    INDIANS.  —  FURTHER    HOSTILITIES. — CRUEL 
EXPULSION     Ol'     THE     ACADIANS. — THEIR     TRANS- 
PORTATION    AND     SVrrL'RINOS.  —  APEECTING 
MEMORIAL.  —  THEIR  FATE. 

According  to  the  accounts  of  contemporary  writers,  there  has 
schlom  been  a  community  so  prosperous  in  its  simplicity  or  so  happy 
in  its  isolation  and  obscurity  as  the  little  colony  of  Acadia.    The 


THE  FBENCH   IN   AMERICA. 

subsistence  to  all  the  i -habitams;  and  th  t^C^^t'  •'"  ''"^^^ 
course  left  their  affections  and  banners  hTsh  o'fT  'T 
ingenuousness.     Thourrh  fir  fmm  ,.         ^'"  'Estate   of  pnniitive 

patriotism  and  attachmen     o  Te  -    I      "  *^""  ^'^'*^'  '  ^P'"*  ^^ 
lanted  in  their  mind        n  th"^^^^^  ^^^°"°'^  -^■ 

.^as  the  attachment  which  the  Fr^  h  ,1  ^  ff  ^'^"'^'  "'"'^^^ 
their  count.-,,  that  the  Icadi  n^Tho  nTubm  tt  :!  ^  '^"^",°^ 
had  sworn  never  to  bear  arms  aLninst'  heir  f  ^  ^"''"  ^'"^^'' 
called  French  neutrals.  ^  ^°'^''  standards,  were 

"No  magistrate  was  ever  appointed  to  rule  over  them   and  thov 
were  never  acqua.nted  with   the  laws  of  Fnol     /   a"'  ^ 

taxes  of  any  kind  were  ever  exact  dfonftLft  """  ""'^'  °^ 
eign  seemed  to  have  forgotten  them  n mU  "''"  '"'^''■ 

to  him.         *         *        ^*         *    '"'  t"'^  *^^7  ^^^;«  ^quajly  strangers 

"Their  manners  were,  of  course,  extremely  sLple^  Thel  w.! 
never  a  cause,  either  civil  or  crirnhml   rC  •  ^'"'P^®.     mere  was 

carried  befor;  the  Cour    of  T  '        ''''^'T''''  '"°"^^^  ^«  ^« 

Whatever  little  differe  s  fronT  "  rT  f ''^'^'^^'  ^^^  ^""-^l-^-- 
were  amicably  adjusted  by't  e  . Wen  ^11^1  '^""'^T^'^  ^''-. 
drawn  by  their  pastor,  who   ,n.^  n  .        '"  P''^''"  ^'^"^^  ^^«^« 

forwhich,  and  f^ tl!:^;  ti  i;^r^^^T^^  ^''^^'^  ^'"^' 
gave  them  a  twenty-seventh  ^^IS  J!!::::;:^ ^'^"^  ^^^^^^^^ 

^e-o,;nce  preveS'I  < WmHPpr  ^^^ t::^r7;^"'^ 
was  rel  eved  before  it  wi«  f»u       j         poverty,     j^.vcry  misfortune 

S^:rr;:::  ts^r-^v'r  "™'""^''" '™  ™ -^ 


422 


TIIK    I'KoriiK'S   BOOK    OF    IIISTOKV. 


1j 

'1 

4""  . 


IKirtnor  wlioiu  lie  liail  clioseii,  and  who  brouglit  liiin  lior  portion  of 
lior  fiitlior's  llocka..  This  family  grew  uj),  niul  i)r()S])orecl  like  the 
others.     They  altoj^ether  amomited  to  aViout  eighteen  thousaml  souls. 

"Who  will  not  be  alVeeted,"  ho  continnes,  "with  the  iiiuoceiit 
manners  and  the  tran(iuillity  of  this  fortunate  colony?  Wlio  will 
not  wish  for  the  duration  of  its  happiness?  Who  will  not  construct, 
in  i  magi  nation,  an  impenetrable  wall,  that  may  separate  these  colo- 
nies from  their  unjust  and  liirbulent  neighbours?  The  calamities  of 
the  people  have  no  period;  but,  oq  the  contrary,  the  end  of  their 
felicity  is  always  ut  hand." 

This  peaceful  and  happy  association,  so  eloquently  describcMl,  was 
destined  to  a  brief  tenure  of  its  innocent  {)rosperity.  The  neighbour- 
ing British  settlers,  harassed  by  Indian  hostilities,  and  ascribing  them 
to  the  inlluonce  of  the  French,  were  not  long  in  taking  a  sharp  ami 
I'ruel  revenge.  A  force  sent  fi'oin  Massachusetts  surjii-ised  tiie  l''re'icli 
and  Indian  establishment  at  Kennebec,  and  slaughtered  most  of  the 
inhabitants.  Among  them  was  the  venerable  Father  Uallc,  who 
had  lived  for  forty  years  as  a  missionary  among  the  Indians,  ami 
who  was  murdered  at  tlie  foot  of  a  cross  erected  in  the  centre  of  the 
village.  Tn  revenge  for  this  deed,  an  Indian  force  committed  equal 
cruelties  at  Canseau,  Dartmouth,  and  Halifax,  selling  their  i>risouers 
to  the  French  at  Louisburg.  The  governor  of  that  town,  in  answer 
to  the  remonstrances  of  the  English,  replied,  and  probably  with  trutli, 
"that  he  had  no  control  over  the  savages,  and  that  the  ])reniiums 
given  for  English  ])ri.soners  were  paid  from  feelings  of  humanity,  to 
2)revent  the  horrible  tortures  and  death  whi(.'h  the  savages  would 
inflict."  The  latter  still  continued  hostilities,  "incessantly  coumiit- 
ting  murdei'S  along  the  coast;  and  it  was  impossible  to  guard  tlic 
colonists  elVectually  against  enemies,  who  sprung  with  the  ngility 
and  fury  of  tigers  from  the  thickets,  or  who  came  along  silently  in 
their  birch  canoes  during  night." 

An  Engli."-'!!  expeditioti  being  di.spatched  to  Chignecto,  the  inhab- 
itants, dreiiding  the  I'alo  of  Kennebec,  buiiied  their  lio\ises  and  joined 
J^a  Come,  the  commander  of  a  Canadian  force,  who  had  come  down 
to  Acadia,  and  had  ei'*>eted  several  ibrts  there.  In  ITo-i  an  English 
force  reduced  several  of  these  hostile  stations,  and  Major  Lawrence, 
the  English  governor  of  Nova  !^i;,otia,  resolved,  unless  the  Acadians 
would  take  the  oath  of  allegiame  to  the  English  crown  in  the  fullei^t 
terms,  they  should  be  transported  from  the  country.  The  unfor- 
tunate inhabitants,  most  of  wh(>m  had  jieaeeably  submitted  to  the 


TIIK    FKKNCII    IN   AMKKICA. 


423 


new  rule,  entreated  that  tliey  might  be  allowed  to  remove  into  Can. 
uda  or  Oa2.e  Urelon;  aiul  oflered  to  swear  full  ulk-giuneo  to  tlio 
IJntisl..  sovereign,  if  pcnnilted  to  reinain,  only  exeepting  bearing 
arms  ugamst  their  countrynien  and  the  Indiana. 

But  a  eruel  j.olicy,  fearing  to  strengtiien  the  otlier  Freneh  colonics 
prevented  the  authorities  from  acee.ling  to  either  of  these  requests' 
and  Clone]  W  i„sk;vv,  without  any  intimation  of  his  purpose  sum- 
moned the  Acadians  to  appear  befbre  him  at  Grand  Pre      About 
four  hundred  men,  who  com].lied  with  this  re.iuisition,  were  impris- 
oned  ,n  the  chureh  at  that  place,  and,  to  their  consternation,  were 
inloinied  that  all  their  lands  and  lloeks  were  confiscated,  and  that 
they  and  their  families  were  to  be  transported  to  the  ]5ritish  colonics 
At  this  time    the  stationary  population  of  Acadia  amounted  to 
about  twenty  thon.san.l,  who  were  living  in  ease  and  prosperity  on 
thuirianns,  when  thus  ruthlessly  sunmioned  to  exile  and  separation 
On  learning  tlie  terrible  decree,  "many  of  them,"  says  Mr.  McGre-or" 
"lied  to  the  woods,  and  joined  ihe  Indians;  others  found  their  mxy 
to  Canada,  and  to  the  island  .;f  St.  John's,  near  J'rince  Edward's 
ll.e  settlements  at  Chigneeto  and  iMinas  were  subjected  to  conflagra- 
tion; and  all  their  villages  and  farms  laid  waste,  and  their  houses 
and  churches  reduced  to  ashes.     The  wretched  inhabitants,  deprived 
ol  food  or  shelter,  were  obliged  to  surrender,  or  II y  to  the  woods  in 
order  to  escape  finally  to  Canada,  the  island  of  St.  John's  or  cLpe 
Breton.     Some  Ibund  their  way  to,  and  established  themselves  in 
JIavti  and  Louisiana.     From  seven  to  eight  thousand  surrendered ' 
ut  discretion;  and  Colonel  Winslow,  in  sending  them  away  from  a 
country  to  which  tlu,y  were  so  mucit  attached,  acted  with  far  more 
kindness  and  delicacy  than  his  orders  strictly  allowed.     Their  trcit- 
.uent  m  the  southern  colonies,  to  which  they  were  transported  was 
cruel  and    undeserved;    they  experienced    the   treatment,   not   of 
prisoners  ol  war,  but  of  condemned  convicts.     Several  families  found 
lueir  way  to  .1 'ranee,  where  they  arrived  utterly  destitute  " 

I>|  an  affecting,  but,  it  is  almost  nee.llcss  to  say  futile,  memorial  to 
the  i.ntish  sovereign,  (CJeorge  111.,)  tiie  exiled  Acadians,  from  their 
places  of  banishment,  stated  the  inhumanily  of  their  treatment,  their 
con.c,entious  scruples  as  to  the  required  oath,  and  besought  redress 
liius  they  conclude,  "we,  our  ancient  j-arents  and  grand-parents, 
(men  of  great  integrity,  and  approve.!  fidelity  tu  vour  majesty,)  and 
our  uinocent  wives  and  children,  became  the  unhappy  victims  of 
those  groundless  lears;  we  were  tran.sported  into  the  Enulish  colonies, 


424 


TllK    P  KDl'LIC'H    ISOOK    OK    IllSToliV. 


and  tliis  wiis  doiio  with  .so  iimi'li  liaslo,  iiiiil  wo  little  remind  to  our 
iu'ct's.silii's  luul  the  tciuli'ivst  ties  of  iiiiturt^,  tliui,  iVoiii  tlio  most 
social  cnjoyimMits  .•iiul  allliiiMit  circuniHtanccH,  many  Ibinid  tlieiiiHclvea 
dostitutr  oi'llio  iioci'ssaiii'H  of'lilb;  jnirriitH  W'-iv  «c|)aiatod  IVom  uhij. 
droii,  and  husbands  iVoni  wives,  sonio  of  whom  have  not,  to  ihij) 
day,  mot  again;  and  wo  woro  si)  erowdod  in  tho  traiisport- vessels 
that  we  had  not  room  even  lor  all  our  bodies  to  lie  down  at  once 
nnd  eonsei[nently  were  jiri-vented  from  eanying  with  us  jji-oner 
iiocessaries,  espei'lally  lor  the  eondbrt  and  snjtport  of  the  iit^^ed  and 
weak,  many  of  whom  (|niekly  end(>d  their  misery  with  their  lives' 
and  even  those  among  us  who  had  snlVered  most  deeply  from  yiMir 
majesty's  enenues,  on  aeeount  of  their  attachment  to  your  majesty's 
government,  were  equally  involved  in  tlie  common  ciilanuty — of 
which  .l\ene  Li'bhnu',  the  notary  public,  belore  mentioned,  is  a  re- 
markable instance:  hewassci/cd,  eoiiliiicd,  ami  bi'onght  awav  aiiioin' 
the  rest  of  the  peoj^Ie,  and  his  liuuily,  consisting  of  twenty  children 
and  about  an  huiulred  ami  lifty  grand-children,  were  scattered  in 
dilVerent  colonies; — so  that  he  was  jiut  ashore  at  New  V(Hk,  with 
only  his  wife  and  two  youngest  children,  in  an  infirm  stale  ol  heultli 
from  whence  he  joined  three  more  of  his  children  at  riiiladelphia, 
wdiere  he  died,  without  any  more  notice  being  taken  of  him  tlian  of 
us,  notwithstanding  his  many  years'  labour  and  deep  stilVerinns  for 
your  majesty's  service. 

"The  nusi>ries  we  have  since  endured  are  scarce  sulTiciently  to  be 
oxi^'cssod,  being  reduced,  for  a  livelihood,  to  toil  and  hard  labour  in 
a  southern  clime,  st)  disagreeing  with  our  constitutions  that  most  of 
us  have  been  prevented  by  sickness  front,  obtaining  the  necessury 
subsistence  for  our  families,  and  are  therefore  threatened  with  tli;it 
whit'h  we  esteem  the  greatest  aggravation  of  all  our  sullerings,  own 
of  having  our  childriMi  forced  from  us,  and  bound  out  to  sti'an"ers,and 
exposed  to  contagious  distemjH'rs,  unknou  n  in  our  native  country. 

"This,  compared  with  the  ease  and  allluence  wx  enjoyed,  shows 
our  condition  to  be  extremely  wretched.  We  have  alreadv  seen, 
in  this  province  of  Pennsylvania,  two  hundrt-d  and  lifty  of  our  poo- 
]de,  which  is  more  than  half  the  nundier  that  were  landed  hero, 
jierish  through  misery  and  various  diseases.  In  this  great  distress 
and  misery,  we  have,  under  God,  none  but  your  majesty  to  look  to, 
with  luipes  of  relief  and  redress.  We,  therefore,  hei'eby  implore 
your  gracious  protection,  and  recpiest  you  may  be  plea.sed  to  lot  the 
justice  of  our  complaints  be  truly  and  impartially  inquired  into,  and 


•iii'il,  IS  ii  re. 


THE   KKKNcn    IN    AMKUrOA. 

,  425 

flint  your  mnjosty  would  p|„,so  to  {.runt  us  hupI,  .r  r       ■ 

Siu;]i  \v;i,s  t  i(«  tr;ii'  cul  Pif..  ,,r  .,  •        ,      '"Viidcrs. 

.Imost  realising  ll,c  /!,},l„l    ,, ,       '     ,  '"  '"■■"'"■>'  »"'! 

H  a»  m,  l,i„t,„.i»l  „v,.  :  ™  "  "'"  "™"""  '^"»1«'  i'«li: 

int..,.,.  „l,ic.|,    inv,.       ;  ,  ,  :;n,^  -""l-^'ivoly  „„.„ll,  tl,„ 

k«,,  .1,0  ,„.,„r„f„l  C,c.,    ,",,''■'"'''  ■""«'«""-  will  ya 


u_ 


CAPE  BKETON,  ETC. 


UKSBION   OP   TlIK   FRENCH   PROVINCES  TO  ENGLAND.  —  LOCISBUUO 

FOUNDED  ON  CAFE  ItRETON:   ITS  IMPORTANCE,  —  EXPEDITION 

OF   PEPPERALL. — L0UI8BIJR0    TAKEN   BY   THE   ENGLISH; 

RECEDED   TO   FRANCE.  —  EXPEDITION    OF    AMHERST. — 

BRAVE  DEFENCE  OF  LOUISBURO:   ITS  SURRENDER  AND 

DESTRUCTION.  —  ST.   JOHN'S:    CAPTURED    BY    THE 

ENGLISH.  —  INDIAN  TROPHIES  DISCOVERED  THERE. 


TiTE  early  ivsort  of  the  French  fishermen  to  the  bank  of  Now- 
foundhind  has  been  mentioned.  On  tlie  island  of  the  same  name 
at  Placentia  Bay,  they  made  n  small  settlement,  and  were  in  tho 
habit  of  frequenting  other  portions  of  the  coast;  but  the  whole,  by 
the  treaty  of  Utrecht^  was  ceded  to  Great  Britain.  The  \Aiini\  of 
Cape  Breton,  (a  name  lirst  applied  by  the  early  French  voyagers  to 
its  eastern  point,  and  afterwards  extended  to  the  whole,)  was  first 
settled  in  the  year  1714,  by  some  colonists  from  Newfoundland  fiiij 
Acadia,  jirineipally  for  convenience  of  fishing.  By  the  treaty  of 
Utrecht,  in  the  following  year,  Acadia,  Newfoundland,  and  other 
portions  of  "New  France,"  were  ceded  to  England;  but  Canada,  Cape 
Breton,  and  St.  John's  island  (Prince  Edward's)  were  retained  by  tlie 
mother-country. 

These  diminislied  possessions  now  assumed  fresh  importance  in 
the  eyes  of  the  French;  and  especially  with  a  view  to  conmianding 
the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  protecting  the  fisheries,  it  was 
determined  to  found  a  military  post  on  Cape  Breton.  Accordingly, 
in  the  year  1720,  the  town  and  harbour  of  Louisburg  were  fortified, 
and  were  eventually  made  one  of  the  most  important  strongholds  of 
the  French  in  all  America.  Its  value  to  that  people  was  great, 
especially  from  the  commanding  position  which  it  occupied  near  the 
fisheries — in  which,  at  some  times,  six  hundred  vessels  and  twenty- 
eight  thousand  seamen  were  constantly  emi)loyed.  No  pains  r 
outlay  was  spared  b}' the  P'reneh  government  in  providing  for  its 
strengtli  and  defence.     "There  is  hardly  a  settlement,"  says  a  writer 


eries,  it  was 


TllK   KUKNCIl   I.N    AMKJiiCA. 


427 


of  the  day,     tlut  Las  h,m  attcMi,]..!  with  ,norc  expense  to  the  French 
nation  tlia.i  tins  of  Louishurg.     It  is  certain  that  they  have  laid  out 
about  thirty  milho.iH  of  livre.s;  and  so  cogent  were  tl,e  motives  winch 
induced  thein  to  put  this  scheme  into  execution,  that  the  preserva- 
Hon  of  LouiHhurg  will  always  bo  considei-ed  as  an  object  of  too  rrrcat 
importance  not  to  sacrifice  every  thing  to  it.     Cape  Breton  protects 
I     the  whole  French  trade  of  North  America,  and  is  of  equal  conse- 
quence in  regard  to  their  commerce  with  the  West  Indies      If  they 
had  no  settlement  in  this  part  of  North  America,  their  vessels  re- 
turning from  St.  Domingo  or  Martinique,  would  no  longer  be  safe 
on  the  Great  Bank  of  Newfoundland,  j,articularly  in  time  of  war- 
lastly,  as  It  IS  situated  at  tho  entrance  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence' 
It  absolutely  commands  the  river  of  that  name."  ' 

The  English,  continually  engaged   in  warlarc  with  their  neicdi- 
bours,were  not  long  in  making  demonstrations  against  a  place^f 
sucli  VMlue  to  the  enemy,  and  so  easily  accessible  by  sea.     In  1745 
a  force  of  four  thousand  men,  under  command  of  Colonel  Willianl 
Pepperall,  was  dis])atchc<l  against  Louisburg  from  New  Kn-LindLi 
spirit  of  ilmatical  enmity  to  the  French  and  to  Catliolicisml,cin.^  it 
IS  «ud  one  of  the  i.rincipal  exciting  causes.     Their  banner  bore'he 
e^cn,  lA./  despcra»,/n,n,   Chnsto  due,"  supplied  by  the  famous 
\  hitheld;  and  a  species  of  crusading  si)irit  distinguished  the  exr.e- 
(htion.    This  force,  conveyed  to  the  scene  of  action  in  transncts 
was  joined  by  an    Ihiglish  squadron,  under  Commodore  Warren' 
u-l.o  had  just  captured  a  French  seventy -four,  with  a  great  supplJ 
of  stores;  and  the  whole  armament,  both  naval  and  military    l!dd 
siege  to  Louisburg.     On  the  18th  of  June,  after  a  brave  resis'tance 
of  fort.y-n,nc  days,  the  garrison  was  compelled  to  surrender,  and  the 
JMioI.sh  took  possession  of  the  town,  with  stores  and  merchandise 
of  nninense  value      Some  time  afterwards,  by  hoisting  the  French 
fl;.K,  they  decoyed  into  the  harbour  and  captured  several  ships 
nc  ly  huU.n,   their  value  being  estimated  at  several  millions  of 
Jolhus.    St  John  s  (Prince  Edward's)  also  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
i^i)^hsli,  and  many  „f  the  inhabitants  were  transported  to  France 

ch.!L  f"  V\  "'  ^''-^■'^^■^''-P'-'"«'  i"  1-^8.  Cape  Breton,  in  Ex- 
change for  Madras,  was  restored  to  France,  witli  which  power  it 
reniauie     until  the    memorable  expedition 'under    Boscawc"       n 

^ St^^f  tl  "  "''  '^""""^'  ''  ^''^  >'^^'^  1-S.  This  arma- 
m..t,  one  of  the  most  powerful  ever  dispatched  to  America,  con- 
-sted  of  twenty-three  ships  of  the  line,  eighteen  iVigates,  and  s loo;  - 


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428 


THE  PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  IIISTOEY. 


of-war  and  transports  amounting  to  an  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
ships,  and  of  sixteen  thousand  soldiers.  From  the  8th  to  the  26th 
of  July,  the  garrison,  under  their  governor,  M.  de  Drucourt,  defended 
the  place  with  extraordinary  bravery;  and  Madame  de  Drucourt, 
the  intrepid  wife  of  the  commander,  appeared  every  day  upon  the 
ramparts,  animating  the  soldiers  to  fresh  vigilance  and  exertion. 
Despite  these  heroic  efforts,  the  French,  overpowered  by  the  vastly 
superior  force  of  the  besiegers,  were  finally  compelled  to  surrender 
and  thus,  on  the  26th  of  July,  1758,  Cape  Breton  passed  finally  inio 
the  hands  of  the  English. 

At  that  time,  the  population  of  Louisburg,  exclusive  of  the  troops, 
w^as  about  five  thousand.  The  merchants  and  the  greater  part  of 
the  inhabitants  were  sent  to  France  in  English  vessels;  but  all  the 
officers  of  government,  both  civil  and  military,  and  all  the  troops, 
numbering  nearly  six  thousand,  were  dispatched  to  England  as 
prisoners  of  war.  More  than  two  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  be- 
sides stores  and  munitions  of  great  value,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
victors.  Fearing  lest  this  important  post  might  be  recovered  by  the 
French,  the  British  government  caused  the  town  and  the  massive 
fortifications  to  be  demolished,  and,  desjnte  the  natural  advantages 
of  the  place,  they  have  ever  since  remained  in  ruins, 

The  island  of  St,  John's,  or  Prince  Edward's,  discovered,  it  is  said, 
by  Cabot,  and  afterwards  seen  by  Verrazano,  was  not  colonized  by 
the  French,  except  in  some  unimportant  fishing  stations,  until  after 
the  treaty  of  Utrecht.  Considerable  numbers  then  flocked  thither 
from  Acadia  and  Cape  Breton;  and  the  colony  became  of  some  im- 
portance, both  for  its  fisheries  and  for  supplying  Louisburg  with 
provisions.  At  Port  La  Joye,  (now  Charlotte  Town,)  a  small  garri- 
son was  stationed.  At  the  time  of  its  surrender  to  the  iMiglish,  in 
1758,  the  population  was  about  six  thousand.  This  island  had  been 
£<)v  many  years  the  resort  of  the  Mic-Mac  Indians,  noted  for  their 
murderous  and  continued  hostility  to  the  English.  The  latter 
averred  that  even  during  time  of  peace,  the^'e  aggressions  and  mas- 
sacres were  encouraged  by  the  French  of  St.  John's;  and  Colonel 
Hollo,  who,  after  after  the  surrender  of  Louisburg,  was  dispatched  by 
General  Amherst  to  take  possession  of  the  island,  asserted  that  on  its 
capture,  a  vast  number  of  scalps,  the  trophies  of  Indian  cruelty, 
were  found  hung  up  in  the  house  of  the  French  g^.vernor.  On  the 
conclusion  of  peace  in  1763,  this  colony  and  that  of  Cape  Breton 
were  annexed  to  the  government  of  Nova  Scotia. 


J 


LOUISIANA. 


CHAPTEH   L 

THE   RIO   GRANDE.— THE    CANADIAN    FRENC  H,— REPORTS  OP 
THE   INDIANS.— FATHER   MARQUETTE   AND  M.  JOLIET'    THEIR 
EXPEDITION   IN  SEARCH    OP    THE    MISSISSIPPI;    VOYAGE 
DOWN  ITS  STREAM  --PAINTED   MONSTERS.— THE   MIS- 
SOURI.—OHIO.— A  RK  A  NS  AS.— RETFRN    VOYAGE. 

DEATH    OP    FATHER    M ABQUETTE.  — ENTHUSIASM 
OF     TH^     FRENCH     AT    HIS     DISCOVERY. 

In  the  account  of  Florida,  mention  has  been  made  of  a  majestic 
river,  discovered  by  the  famous  De  Soto,  in  1541,  and  described  as 
the  Rio  Grande.     The  disastrous  fate  of  the  expedition  which  he 
commanded,  seems  to  have  deterred  the  Spaniards  for  more  than  a 
century  from  making  any  further  attempt  in  the  same  direction.     For 
an  hundred  and  thirty  years  nothing  more  was  known  of  that  mighty 
stream,  the  effluence  of  a  continent,  and  now,  without  question" the 
most  important  in  the  world.     The  enterprising  spirit  of  the  Cana- 
dian French,  in  their  expeditions  of  war,  of  traffic,  or  of  survey, 
bad  made  them  acquainted  with  extensive  regions  lying  around  the 
great  lakes,  and  the  streams  which  flow  into  them.     From  the  reports 
of  the  India'-.d  dwelling  in  those  remote  territories,  the  existence  of 
a  great  river  in  the  west  was  ascertained;  and  the  opinion  of  .-eo- 
graphers  was  divided  as  to  the  probable  place  of  its  disembo-ue- 
ment.    It  was  thought  by  some  that  it  must  flow  into  the  Gulf  of 
California;  by  others,  into  the  Atlantic,  near  the  coast  of  Virginia- 
and  by  others,  on  better  grounds,  that  its  outlet  could  be  in  no 
other  region  than  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Under  the  enterprising  administration  of  Count  Frontcnao,  two 
men  were  found  daring  enough  to  attempt  the  task  of  its  discovery 
and  survey.  These  were  Father  Marquette,  a  missionary,  eminent 
lor  his  piety  and  his  zeal  in  the  conversion  of  the  natives,  a  great 


J 


li. : 


430 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF  IIISTOKY, 


traveller,  and  familiar  with  their  languages,  and  M.  Joliet,  an  ad- 
venturous citizen  of  Quebec.  With  five  other  Frenchmen,  on  the 
13th  of  May,  1673,  these  venturous  explorers,  in  two  canoes  took 
their  departure  from  the  remote  outpost  of  Michilimackinac.  Pass- 
ing  the  tribes  of  the  "Folles  Avoines"  or  Wild  Rice,  (so  called  from 
the  native  grain  on  which  they  chiefly  subsisted,)  the  voyagers 
received  many  warnings  from  that  friendly  people,  of  the  perils  to 
be  encountered  on  their  proposed  journey— "of  the  dangers  of  the 
river,  of  the  savage  tribes  which  dwelt  on  its  banks,  and  of  the  ter- 
rible monsters  (alligators)  which  swarmed  in  that  region  of  heat 
whither  it  flowed."  But  the  pious  father  only  replied,  that  he  had  no 
fear  of  these  terrors,  and  would  gladly  lay  down  his  life  to  further 
the  salvation  of  souls  in  those  distant  regions. 

Entering  Green  Bay,  at  the  north-west  of  Lake  Michigan,  the 
adventurers  ascended  the  Fox  river,  and  found  friendly  entertain- 
ment among  the  Miamis,  a  people  already  in  a  degree  converted  by 
the  exertions  of  a  zealous  missionary,  the  Father  AUouez.  In  the 
centre  of  their  principal  village  was  a  large  cross,  covered  with  offer- 
ings to  the  Great  Spirit,  in  token  of  thankfulness  for  success  in 
hunting.  On  the  10th  of  June,  the  associates  left  this  river,  and 
guided  by  the  natives,  transported  their  canoes  to  another,  runuin-^ 
in  a  different  direction,  which,  they  were  told,  would  lead  them  to 
the  Great  Eiver,  the  object  of  their  search.  Down  this  stream  (the 
Wi^^consin)  they  paddled  for  forty  leagues,  observing  deer  and  buf- 
falo on  the  banks,  and  on  the  ITth  entered  tlie  majestic  "^leate 
Chassipi,"  or  Father  of  Waters,  which,  under  the  name  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, still  retains  nearly  its  original  native  appellation. 

Down  this  great  stream  they  floated  for  sixty  leagues,  without 
seeing  any  sign  of  human  habitation— landing,  toward  evening,  to 
cook  their  food,  and  anchoring  in  the  river,  for  security,  during  the 
niglit.  At  length,  seeing  foot-prints  on  the  shore,  they  landed"  and 
Alai'tpiette  and  Joliet,  following  a  path  wliieli  led,  for  two  lea-nies 
tlirough  the  prairie,  came  to  three  villages  of  tlie  Illinois,  who  re'- 
ocived  them  with  much  kindness.  The  pipe  of  peace  was  solemnly 
smoked,  presents  were  interchanged,  and  on  the  following  day  more 
than  six  hundred  of  this  friendly  people  accompanied  them  to  their 
canoes,  and  bade  them  adieu  with  every  token  of  good-will.  Pur- 
suing their  course,  they  beheld,  on  the  face  of  a  lofty  precipice, 
fronting  the  river,  and  apparently  inaccessible  to  man,  the  figures 
of  'Mwo  monsters,"  ])aintrd 


m  green,  red,  and  blue,  an'd  so  well  exe- 


THE    FRENCH   IN    AMERICA.  ,  ,, 

cuted  that  it  seemed  doubtful  if  they  were  the  work  of  sava-es 
These  effigies  are  or  were  recently,  ia  a  state  of  good  preservatio°n.  ' 
They  had  now  learned  of  the  existence  of  a  great  river,  called  the 
Pekitanoni,  or  Missouri,  flowing  into  the  Mississippi,  and  ere  Ion- 
were  involved  in  its  turbid  flood,  which,  swelled  with  rains,  rushed 
furiously  down,  bearing  great  masses  of  driftwood.     From  a  villaoe 
named  Oumissouri,  on  the  shore  of  this  stream,  its  present  namels 
derived.     At  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  to  their  surprise,  they  found 
savages  armed  with  muskets,  which,  with  other  European  articles 
the  Indians  said,  had  been  purchased  of  white  men  from  the  east' 
Entering  their  dwellings.  Father  Marquette  smoked  with  them  the 
calumet  of  peace,  as  usual,  and  gave  them  what  instruction  he  could 
m  Christianity.     Still  floating  southward,  about  the  thirty-third  de- 
gree of  latitude,  he  came  to  an  Indian  village,  named  Metchicmmea 
The  people  here  were  at  first  hostile,  but  being  propitiated  by  the  un- 
failing calumet,  listened  to  such  religious  instruction  as  the  good  father 
was  able  to  impart.     Ten  leagues  below  this  place,  at  a  villa-e  called 
Akamsca,  (Arkansas,)  he  was  inform-l  by  the  aid  of  an  interpreter 
that  the  sea  was  only  five  days  distant.     Concluding  that  the  object 
of  their  expedition  was  secured  by  this  supposed  ascertainment  of 
the  debouchement  of  the  stream  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  dread- 
ing the  cruelties  of  the  Spaniards  who  dwelt  upon  its  shores  the 
explorers  thought  it  prudent  to  return.  ' 

Ascending  with  great  toil  and  difficulty  against  the  current,  they 
finally  came  to  the  Illinois  river,  up  which  they  passed  with  greater 
ease  to  Lake  Michigan,  where  they  arrived  in  Sci)tember.  In  the 
four  months  which  they  had  consumed  in  their  arduous  expedition  a 
vast  accession  ha.i  been  made  togcograi)]iical  knowledge,  and  the  w'ly 
to  one  of  the  richest  and  most  valuable  regions  on  earth  had  been 
laid  open  to  mankind.  More  than  two  thousand  five  hundred  miles 
had  been  traversed,  in  their  frail  barks,  amid  a  tliousand  dan-ers 
by  these  adventurous  uu-n.  Father  Marquette  dn.nv  up  a'briel'lnr- 
rative  of  the  expedition,  and  constructed  a  map  of  the  route  which 
represents,  with  tolerable  distinctness,  all  the  great  features' of  the 
river  and  the  country  he  had  explored. 

At  the  lake,  he  partclTrom  J,)liet,  who  hastened  with  tiie  tidin-s 
to  Quebec,  while  the  good  missionary  remained  witli  his  sava°e 
fnends.  "Indifferent  to  renown,  and  zealously  occupied  with  the 
salvation  of  souls,  he  again  took  liis  wav  to  the  wilderness,  and 
busied  himself  as  a  missionary  among  the  Miamis.     Death  soon 


I 


432 


THE   PEOPLE'S    BOOK   OF  IIISTOKY. 


overtook  him  in  his  pious  pilgrimage.  On  the  18th  of  May,  1675 
coasting  in  his  canoe  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  he 
entered  a  small  river.  Here  he  landed,  built  an  altar,  and  performed 
the  mass,  saying  that  his  voyage,  he  believed,  was  destined  to  end 
there.  He  then  retired  into  the  wood,  desiring  his  two  companions 
to  leave  him  alone  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  they  made  search,  and  found  the  good  father,  his  present- 
iment fulfilled,  lying  quietly  dead  in  the  shade  of  the  eternal  forest. 
In  this  obscure,  but  not  unfitting  manner,  perished  a  man,  illustrious 
for  his  courage,  endurance,  and  enterprise,  and  endeared  to  remem- 
brance by  his  pious  and  philanthropic  labours  for  the  souls  of  his 
fellow-men." 

At  Quebec,  the  tidings  brought  by  Joliet  were  received  with 
extraordinary  enthusiasm,  and  the  achievement  of  the  two  associates 
was  justly  considered  the  greatest  and  most  important  discovery  of 
the  age.  All  day  the  bells  rang  aloud,  and  the  bishop  and  clergy, 
with  all  the  authorities  of  the  city,  went  in  solemn  procession  to  the 
cathedral,  where  a  Te  Deum  was  sung,,  and  a  high  mass  performed, 
in  honour  of  the  memorable  occasion. 


vjiLJjiAi^jjr     iL    (III   Jib      iL    Ji  « 

lA   SALLE:   HIS   ATTEMPTS  TO  REACH  CHINA. — GRANT  OF  THE 
KING.  —  TONTI;   THEIR   EXPEDITION   TO  THE   WEST:   DISCON- 
CERTED  BY  TREACHERY. — ACTUAL  AND  PRETENDED  DIS- 
COVERIES   OF    FATHER    HENNEPIN. — VOYAGE    OP    LA 
SALLE    TO    THE    OUTLET    OP    THE    MISSISSIPPI:     HE 
TAKES   POSSESSION    OF    THE    VALLEY.  —  THE    RE- 
TURN.— IMITATION     OF     INDIAN     FEROCITY. 

The  magnificent  enterprise  so  splendidly  commenced  by  Mar- 
quette, was  ere  long  completed  by  an  adventurer,  his  equal  in  cour- 
age, enthusiasm,  and  patient  endurance.  Eobert  Cavalier,  Sieur  de  la 
Salle,  a  young  man  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  order  of  Jesuits, 
was  at  this  time  in  Canada,  engaged  in  the  undertaking  of  findings 
westerly  passage  to  China.  He  proceeded,  however,  on  this  chimer- 
ical expedition  no  further  than  the  spot  now  known  as  La  Chine, 


THEFKENCH   INAMEBICA 

'  433 

(China,)  a  name  attesting  his  e\'npptoti-^»o  j  i- 
coming  possessed  with  an  eouarv  ft  '  '"^.f '•^*^PP°'"t'"ent.  Be- 
flowing  from  the  westward,  Su  d Tim  fl^  ''l  '''  '^'^^°""' 
he  offered  his  services  to  Count'lio  nao  1  '  "  t  "^  ^^°^^°"' 
for  aid  at  the  court  of  France.  Ito  din^t'^  1  "'^  "^^"^  '^  «PP'^ 
I  and,  by  the  favour  of  Colbert  nnd  f]Tv  ■  'J'^'J'^''"''^^  *^^'*er, 
Louis  the  desired  cquipn.'  t  Thel  ""'',^'  ^°"'''  "^'^''^«'^  of 
and  a  monopoly  of  tlLa^tl  if    ,  ""^  °^  ^'<^''*  I^^^'°"*«"a«. 

to  him,  and'wL  the  CheX  IW   Tf "'  T  '^'"^^^^  ^^'^^'^^ 
only  one  arm,  he  repaired  to  Quebec   '  ^''^''"  °^^^^'  ^^^^^ 

tember,  1679,  the  t;oassoStestntl^t^^^^^^^^^^^  /»  4- 

takmg  forty-four  men-among  them   "the  p  .'V*  ^^"'^^'^  ^"«' 

pin,  famous  for  his  discoveries  and  n  '^  '*'^''  ^^""«- 

sitions."  At  the  river  sZoseToXl'VT-  '''^  ''^^  «"'^  ™P- 
afort,  and  thence  passed  toT^lCo^t^T^^'  "-^  ^'^"^  ^^'^ 
country  proved  fertile  and  populous  'no  !  ^^, '^^'^^^'^^^-d-  The 
houses  being  found  in  one  vilCe     'nd  th  "  ^''  ^^""^''^^ 

and  hospitable.  The  treason  of  s°ome  of  ^  ^T^"'  '''''  '"«"d^>^ 
disconcerted  this  promising  el,  n.  ^     ""''■"'''  ^^^  ^^'^  time, 

destruction  of  all  L^e'd  1^ I' t^  roT  1^  ''T'  ''"  '^^ 
tempted  to  excite  opposition  amon^X  I.d'hnTb  "'  '"^  '"^  ^^■ 
La  Salle  was  a  spy  of  their  enemies  fllT^^'  '"smualing  that 
proving  of  no  avail,  these  wretchr'  ^'^''''''  ^"^  '^^'  ^^«vioe 

his  chief  adherents     t  a  Chr  ^^  ?«-»  ^^  ^-n  and 

renuHlies,  the  suffer  rsrecove^eTandr''--  ^*'^'  *^'^^'->^  ^'^  -^ 
into  the  wilderness,  beyond  the  r.f  .  T  ^"''"^^'^  "^"^^^^'^^^  A-' 
this  reduction  of  h  s  W  to  1  .  u^"''"''  ^«'^^P^"^^.  V 
Salle  left  Tonti  in  comtl^i  ^  ?"VL  '^  P-^?.^  --i^  U 


I    Salle  left  Tonti  in  command  of  TV?         P"'^'  ^^'  ^^^ 

'■■"■111  •■"lotlier  version  „?T„   ^  M,ss,ss.pp,,  „„.,  dead,  he  „„s 

Vol.  II1I2V  "'      ""  °'"''"'  •■""  *«  «*i'y  of 


434 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF  IIISTOBY. 


which  is  sufficiently  proved,  by  the  fact  that  ho  pretends  to  have  < 
ascended  it  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Illinois  river,  in  a  canoe, 
with  only  two  men,  in  twenty-two  days.  So  notorious,  indeed,  was 
his  bad  faith  in  these  transactions,  that  his  common  epithet  in  Can- 
ada, we  arc  told,  was  "Xe  Orand  Menteur"  (the  Great  Liar).  "By 
this  impudent  fabrication,  he  secured  to  himself  a  reputation  some- 
what like  that  of  Vespucius,  whose  fraudulent  attempt  (or  that  of 
his  admirers)  to  wrest  the  glory  from  a  true  discoverer,  obscures  the 
renown  of  his  real  and  meritorious  achievements." 

La  Salle,  having  collected  twenty  men  at  his  posts,  resumed  his 
enterprise,  and  on  the  2d  of  February,  1682,  embarked  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi.    He  pai^sed  the  Missouri  and  the  Ohio,  as  well  as  the  Ar- 
kansas, the  termination  of  the  voyage  of  Marquette.     The  river 
seemed  interminable  in  its  windings,  yet  he  kept  on,  and  was  kindly 
received  by  the  powerful  tribe  of  the  Natchez.     On  the  27th  of 
March  he  passed  the  mouth  of  Red  River,  and  on  the  7th  of  April 
arrived  at  that  strange  region,  neither  land  nor  water,  where,  through 
many  channels,  the  turbid  torrent  of  the  Mississippi  mingles  with 
the  gulf     "The  country  immediately  around  the  outlet  of  this  vast 
stream  was  desolate  and  uninteresting.     Far  as  the  eye  could  reiich, 
Bwampy  flats  and  inundated  morasses  filled  the  dreary  prospect. 
Under  the  ardent  rays  of  the  tropical  sun,  noisome  vapours  exhaled 
from  the  rank  soil  and  sluggish  waters,  poisoning  the  breezes  from 
the  southern  seas,  and  corrupting  them  with  the  breath  of  pestilence. 
Masses  of  floating  trees,  whose   large   branches  were  scathed  by 
months  of  alternate  immersion  and  exposure,  during  hundreds  of 
leagues  of  travel,  choked  up  many  of  the  numerous  outlets  of  the 
river,  and,  cemented  together  by  the,  alluvial  deposits  of  the  muddy 
stream,  gradually  became   fixed   and   solid,   throwing  up  a  rank 
vegetation."* 

The  discoverer,  exulting  in  the  completion  of  his  achievement, 
proceeded  to  take  formal  possession  of  the  vast  regions  watered  by 
the  river  he  bad  explored— bestowing  on  them,  in  honour  of  liis 
sovereign,  the  name  of  Louisiana.  From  the  top  of  a  high  tree  a 
cross  was  suspended ;  a  shield,  bearing  the  arms  of  France,  was  set 
up;  and  a  solemn  Te  Deum  was  chanted,  in  gratitude  to  Heaven  for 
the  success  of  this  memorable  enterprise.  The  more  important  ope- 
ration of  attempting  to  ascertain  the  latitude,  produced  a  rosult  en- 
tirely fallacious. 

*  Wtirbnrton — "Conquest  of  Cannda." 


THE    FRKNCII    1  N  A  M  K  U  I  C  A  . 

Eeturning  with  groat  difficulty  against  the  flcrco  current  of  the 
tapp,  swollen,  It  IS  probable,  at  this  season,  with  floods    Je 
French  expenoneed  mueh  annoyanee  from  the  attacks  of  t^Te  treach 
erous  Quunp,ssas,  whose  hostility  they  had  already  tasted   100"^^ 
do.       Uuving  slam  several  of  these  assailants;  the  adventurers^ 
emula  Ung  te  savage  custom  of  their  foes,  scalpei  the  ^0^    Td 
earned  oft  the  usual  ghastly  trophies  of  Indian  warfare.     Sfero 
oouspract.ce,  mdeed,  seems  always  to  have  had  a  singula    flTna 
Uon  for  men  once  thoroughly  committed  in  hostility  witE  the  savaTes 
Near  ha  fa  century  later,  if  the  old  ballad  may  be  trusted  we  Id 
th  English  (and  especially  their  chaplain,  the  Reverend  Mr   Frvei 
in  uiging  a  similar  taste  at  a  battle  on  the  frontier  of  Maine     fnd^ 
,«deed  ata  much  later  date,  our  backwoodsmen  were  fr«^ 
the  habit  of  emulating,    n  this  resnprt    the.  ^    *  ^  "equentJy  in 
whieh  they  encountered.  ^     '  ^'  "'^'*  ^"^^^^*^"«  ^"^es 


CHAPTSH  HI. 

moinON   OP  LA   SALLE   BY   SEA    IX   aUKST  OP   TUB   MISSIS 

Zr^nZT'"'  ^"«-'^«-r-XBS   AT   THE      Ay 
OP  ST.   BERNARD.  — POUNDS    A    COLON  Y.—misforthn  p/ 
AO  BISCOURAOEMENTS.-HE  SETS  FORTH  OVe"    AND 
PR  CANADA.-HIS  DEATH.-p^TE  OP  THE  S    RVivo  ,' 
OP  THE  EXPEDITION,-OP  THE  COLONY  OP  ST    I  oVls 

LaRochelle  for  the  mouth  of  the  Misstinni      Th  '    V  ^""^ 

mutinous  disoositinn  ^f  P  Mississippi.     The  sullenness  and 

early  day  produe  d  loi  ^'"^"V^'  '"P^""  "^  '^'^  '^'S^'^'  «*  an 
ated  in  i[  entil  dfseomfir         f'  '^  ''''  ^"P^'^'*''^"'  ^'^  ^-n^u- 

-LI   nie  expected  outlet.     "Nothing  is 


1 


436 


THE   PEOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  I1I8T0KY 


II-.  I 


i 


more  dlflicult  than  to  discover,  from  sea,  the  entrance  even  of  the 
largest  river,  on  an  unknown  coast,  unless  the  position  has  been 
accurately  determined  beforehand,  and  the  attempt  is  doubly  embar- 
rassing, where  the  stream,  like  that  of  which  he  was  in  search,  de- 
bouches, through  numerous  outlets,  upon  a  marshy  shore." 

Accordingly,  after  a  long  and  fruitless  search  for  the  desired 
entrance  (which,  it  seems,  they  passed  on  the  10th  of  January,  1685) 
Beanjeu,  disregarding  the  orders  of  La  Salle,  kept  westward  for  a  hun- 
dred leagues,  and  anchored  in  the  Bay  of  St.  Bernard,  not  for  from  tbe 
present  site  of  Galveston.     Finding  a  large  stream  flowing  into  this 
bay,  the  governor  supposed  that  it  might  be  one  of  the  western  mouths 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  concluded  to  make  a  landing.     His  expecta- 
tions, indeed,  had  been  miserably  disappointed  on  discovering  the 
nature  of  his  outflt.     The  alleged  artisans  proved  mere  impostors; 
the  soldiers  were  decrepid  and  worn-out  invalids,  disbanded  as  unfit 
for  service.    This  heterogeneous  and  ill-assorted  crowd,  to  the  number 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty,  being  landed,  Beaujeu  hastily  deserted 
them,  and  sailed  reckles.sly  away.     The  commander,  though  much 
discouraged  by  these  untoward  circumstances,  set  to  work  and  built 
a  fort,  whicli  he  called  St.  Louis.     Ue  next  spent  four  months  in 
coasting  along  the  shore  with  canoes,  vainly  seeking  tlie  Mississippi, 
and  unable  to  obtain  any  information  from  the  unfriendly  savages. 
In  April,  he  set  forth  towards  New  Mexico,  in  hopes  of  discovering 
mines,  but  with  equal  ill-success. 

Tonti,  who  had  been  left  in  command  of  a  fort  on  the  Illinois, 
according  to  previous  agreement  with  La  Salle,  now  descended  the 
Mississippi  to  the  sea,  where  he  expected  to  find  his  associate  and 
the  projected  colony;  but,  after  searching  the  shores  of  the  gulf  for 
months  in  vain,  sadly  relinquished  the  attempt,  and  returned  to  his 
station  on  the  Illinois. 

The  unfortunate  little  colony  founded  by  La  Salle,  its  numbers 
diminished  by  losses  in  every  expedition,  was  fast  verging  to  ex- 
tinction. In  less  than  two  years  from  its  foundation,  only  thirty- 
seven  men  were  alive,  and  famine  and  Indian  hostility  threatened 
the  speedy  destruction  of  the  whole.  The  dauntless  commander,  his 
spirit  unbroken  by  misfortune  or  disappointment,  continued  to  pro- 
ject fresh  schemes  uf  adventure  and  discovery.  With  sixteen  com- 
pani(Mis,  on  the  12th  of  January,  1686,  he  set  forth  on  tbe  terrible 
enterprise  of  traversing  -the  wilderness,  and  penetrating  over- 
land to  Canada.     Among  them  was  his  young  nephew  Moranger, 


'i'llK   KKKNCH    IX   AMKUnv 

437 
a  youth  of  haugl.ty  temper,  who  inorrcHl  the  enn.itv  of  tl  .  i 
a  mutmoua  spirit  soon  broke  out      Or,„    r.i  "^      ""^  '■*'"'^*'  '"^"'1 

two  days' Journey  from  the  fort,  be    J  taken' i7' "'""' '"'"^'"^' 
return.     liis  brother  earnestly  d  sirecHo  be!r  >    '  ^^'""'"'^'^  '" 

Salle  refused  to  allow  it  on  aceo.nT    f  ,u  "  ««"^P«"y,  but  La 

8arvivin<'  l)rothc'r  from  ll...t  ,„^         "^'  eieu  hy  the  Indians;  and  the 

ada,  he  nourid.od  sohcmc    of  v2.f    ^  ""I  °  '"  ""^  """"■''  Can- 
r«.  .he,„  in  execution     WifuZ™"''  T'"'""'  "■=  Wort-ni.y  lo 

canc-bral,,,  .,l,„r,l,  after  thev'fil^  f     '"*  T"™'"'  "''■"'slve,  i„  „ 

con,™,,*;     .rci°r::;  X  I nZl td"-"'  "'  "r  ""''"""""'° 
Mil,  of  May,  1688  it  is  „:,}  !„  T      '         P^-^Mly  <liod,  on  tl,e 

il™.  have  won  renown  a,  pioSr  I",!!     ^.v" MtT/'T'  °'  '"* 

The  assassins,  to  avoid  the  ven^einPPr.ffi     r  •      •, 
hastily  quitted  the  party,  and  strulan       T  T-^'  "^ ''"'''  "^«^''"' 
They  all  perished,  either  at  tl  el       l      .        '"'''  '"  '^''  wilderness, 
savages.  ^The  litile  co.;  n  '  o  I  li  '  '''"'  "^  "'  ^^'^  '^'^^'^^ 

«tiina>pt  on  their  toilsomeTo^urnertoT"^  "7  "^'"^^^^  ^-^  --"' 
through  whose  country  they  p.  seVtre  TJ^'T'  ^^^^  ^'"^'^"« 
months  after  the  death  of  the  r'  ^  ""^  ^■'"^'^'-  «"J  ^^^^^ 

fluence  of  the  Ark  ,s.  and  M  ""•'"'  "^  "''""'  '"^^  '^'  ^°"- 
they  found  a  cros  "h  had^:"'"'"^"  "^"'  ^^  ^^^'^  «-P-«. 
ofTonti,  whom,  i  .  a  endtf  th"T'-"?  '^^  ^"^'-^'^  ^'""'P--'- 
place.    Encourai^ed  by  th     'S,        ^^''^'^'«f  PI"'  >'«  ^^d  left  at  this 

tion.  they  pursued  thfor^^C:^^^  ""T'^'Y  ''''  -'^'-^• 
finally  succeeded  in  reaching  I  '  ''     '  ^^^"^^^^^^^  ^o  state, 

The  miserable  remn-inf-  nf  +i.„      i         ,  „ 
I-.is,  soon  perished  under  hrn-7'  '1  ^^  '^''^  ^^"«  '-^^  ^^^  St. 
that  little  station.     Firelikren  "  "'  '''  ^"'"''  --rounding 

^•'IIi'.g  into  the  hands  oft  Sn?^^^."""'  'P'''^'  ^'^°  '-^^^^^^'-^^^^ 
ofthesettlement.  Of  the  tvohnT'T  '  r^''^^'^  *^^^  unhappy  fate 
these,  and  the  seyen  corn7.2^^^^^^^^^^^ 

Canada,  alone  survLd^g  T-     ^"  "'"  ""'^  ^'"■'-  ^'^^^^  ^<^ 

attempt  to  colonizeThe  "riehe?     T     "  "^''^'''^^'^  ^^'^"'^  ^^  ^he  first 

the  richest  and  most  valuable  region  of  all  North 


488 


THE   I'Korl.K'H   1U)()K   OK   IIISTOUY. 


Amciica— an  attempt,  unhappily,  only  the  prototype  of  suoceRsive 
efforts  in  the  satno  direction.  The  colonization  of  Louisiana,  like 
that  of  its  neighbour,  Florida,  for  a  long  series  of  years  preacnits  little 
except  continually  renewed  misfortune,  suffering,  and  mortality. 


CEAPTEH  I?. 

NKOLEOT  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI  VALLBY.  —  KXPKDITION  OP  LEMOINE 
D'lDKIlVIIJ.K:    HE  FOUN  DS  SETTLEMENTS  AT  1111,0X1,  M01)II,E,AND 

ISLE    DAUPHINE. TONTI.  —  U  NPKOSPE  IIOUS    CONDITION   OP 

LOUISIANA.  —  DEATH    OP   D'lBERVlLLE.  —  HIS   BllOTHEH 
BIENVILLE. — CKO/AT. — THE  MISSISSIPPI  COMPANY. 

OIIEAT  IMMIORATION,  SUPPEIUNO,  AND  MOllTAL- 

ITY  — >fji\v  ORLEANS   FOUNDED.  —  CONTINUED 
IMMIOIIATION. — VAST  EXTENT  OF  LOUISIANA. 


Foil  ten  years  after  the  death  of  La  Salle  and  the  destruction  of 
his  colony,  the  French  made  no  attempt  to  settle  the  Mississippi  Valley 

the  few  adventurous  voyagers  who  had  resorted  there  from  Canada 

betaking  themselves  to  hunting  and  to  traffic  in  furs,  and  gradually 
assimilating  with  the  Indians  in  character  and  habits.  In  1697, 
Lemoine  D'Ibcrville,  a  brave  Canadian,  distinguished  for  his  naval 
services,  represented  to  the  court  of  France  the  importance  of  tlii.s 
neo'lected  region,  and  obtained  the  means  for  a  fresh  attempt  at  set- 
tlement on  the  Gulf  With  two  vessels,  on  the  17th  of  October,  of 
that  year,  he  set  sail  from  Rochefort,  and  directed  his  course  to  tlie 
Bay  of  Pensacola.  The  Spaniards  there  remonstrated  against  his 
alleged  intrusion,  yet  he  proceeded,  and  examined  the  harbour  of 
Mobile,  the  river  Pascagoula  and  the  Bay  of  Biloxi,  and  finally 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi.  The  certainty  of  this  dis- 
covery was  confirmed  by  the  extraordinary  incident  of  a  letter, 
■written  by  Tonti  thirteen  years  before,  giving  an  account  of  the 
country,  with  most  valuable  directions,  being  preserved  by  the 
Indians,  and  handed  to  D'Ibervillc. 

He  passed  up  the  Mississippi,  and,  entering  the  outlet  still  bearing 
his  name,  discovered  Lakes  Maurepas  and  Pontchartrain,  and  the 


THE   KKKNOII   IN    AMEKICA. 


489 


Bay  ol  Uiloxi.     Uero  ho  fo.UKlod  ii  small  HctUomci.t,  which,  however, 
on  account  of  the  diaadvantagcs  of  the  Bite,  wiw  aftiirwuids  removed 
to  the  Bay  of  Mobile,  and  tlioiicc  again  to  the  Lslo  Dauphino,  .where  it 
fiiuilly  found  a  resting- place.     A  fort  called  Ikli/e  was  also  erected  at 
the  mouth  of  thoMis3issi])pi;  and  afler  completing  these  and  other 
works  in  furtherance  of  colonization,  D'Iberville,  leaving  his  brothers 
Siuirolle  and  JJienvillo  in  command,  proceeded  to  France  for  fresh 
a.Hsistance  in  his  entcrprine.     In  December,  IflOi),  ho  returned,  and 
soon  after  received  a  visit  from  the  brave  and  adventurous  ^J'onti 
who,  having  heard  of  the  foundation  of  the  new  colony,  with  only 
seven  companions,  had  descended  the  Mississippi  to  greet  him.    After 
a  few  years  of  doubtful  i)rosperity,  a  terrible  fever  desolatod  the  little 
colony,  carrying  off  Saurolle  and  eventually  D'Iberville,  and  leavin" 
only  a  hundred  and  fifty-five  .souls  alive.     The.se  were  in  a  misera° 
lie  condition,  tlie  .spots  on  wliich   they  were  located—Biloxi,  Isle 
Dauphino,  and  the  Balize— being  little  more  than  deserts.  'tIio 
fruitless  search  for  gold  and  the  trade  in  furs  eng,.„s,cd  their  atten- 
tion,  to  the  neglect  of  husbandry  or  permanent  occupation  of  the 
country.    Bienville,  the  surviving  brother,  by  his  perseverance  and 
talent  for  command,  still  managed  to  sustain  the  feeble  interest  of 
France  in  these  distant  regions.     A  considerable  extent  of  the  vast 
wilderncs.s,  now  so  populous,  was  surveyed.     Red  River  and  the 
Missouri  had  been  a.scended  to  great  distances  by  enterprising  advon- 
turer.s,  and  small  settlements  were  planted  on  the  Yazoo  and  the 
Washita. 

The  Protestant  exiles,  driven  from  their  homes  bv  the  cruelty  of 
Louis  XIV.,  but  still  retaining  the  true  French  loyalty  and  afleJtion 
tor  thoir  country,  now  offered  that,  if  tolerated  in  t'he  exercise  of 
their  religion,  four  hundred  families  of  them  would  remove  to  Louis- 
iana, But  that  bigoted  sovereign,  by  nature  and  education  on(>.  of 
the  vilest  and  most  tyrannical  that  ever  disgraced  a  throne,  replied 
that  he  had  not  expelled  them  from  his  kingdom  to  form  a  repub- 
ac  of  them."  ^ 

By  1712,  there  were  only  twenty  families  in  Louisiana,  living  in  the 
most  abject  poverty,  and  destitute  of  the  means  of  escaping  from  their 
forlorn  situation.  I„  that  year  Antoine  Crozat,  who  had  amassed 
a  vast  fortune  by  trading  to  the  East  Indies,  purchased  from  the 
crown  a  grant  of  the  entire  country,  with  a  monopoly  of  commerce 
or  sixteen  years.  His  object  was  not  colonization,  but  contraband 
traffic  with  Mexico,  in  order  to  secure  a  return  of  the  precious  metals; 


440 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   IIISTOKY. 


and  tins  project  failing,  from  the  dishonesty  of  his  agents,  in  1717 
he  tt'ansferrcd  his  privileges  to  that  famous  or  infamous  coiupuny 
whose  history,  both  in  Europe  and  Amerioa,  is  one  tissue  ol'  gross 
ignorance,  of  stupendous  fraud,  of  suffering,  and  of  ruin.  At  this 
time,  thougii  numerous  emigrants,  at  dillereut  periods,  had  arrived 
the  whole  poi)ulation — so  great  had  been  the  mortality — was  only 
seven  hundred. 

The  Mi.ssit:si2)pi  Company,  under  the  guidance  of  the  notorious  John 
Law,  had  procured  a  euarter,  conveying  entire  control,  except  a  mere 
nominal  reservation  of  sovereignty,  over  the  ill-starred  province-  and 
by  the  artful  management  of  that  subtle  schemer,  a  mania,  wilder 
than  had  ever  been  known  in  France,  was  excited  for  speculation  in 
the  new  enterprise.  Fabulous  stories  of  gold  and  silver  mines  of 
unimaginable  riches,  were  eagerly  circulated:  the  stock  of  the  com- 
pany rose  enormously;  and  an  immense  quantity  of  paper  money 
amounting  to  more  than  two  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  was  put 
into  circulation.  The  history  of  the  wide-spread  ruin  and  national 
bankruptcy  in  which  France  was  involved  by  the  collapsing  of  this 
famous  bubble,  does  not  immediately  pertain  to  our  subject.  No 
single  scheme  of  speculation,  it  is  probable,  ever  entailed  suck 
universal  misfortune  on  a  community. 

During  the  years  1717  and  1718,  the  company,  with  rash  and  iudis- 
criminating  haste,  dispatched  to  Louisiana  several  thou'^and  emigrants, 
French  and  foreigners.  Those  unfortunate  people,  crowded  on  ship- 
board, ill  provided  with  food  and  necessaries,  arriving  at  their  place  of 
destination,  ibund  that  the  pin'ts  of  Old  Mobile  and  the  Isle  Dauphine 
were  completely  destroyed,  the  latter  in  consoi|uence  of  the  accumu- 
lation of  vast  saud-bauks.  They  were  set  on  sliore  at  Biloxi,  without 
provisions  or  nieans  of  future  support,  and  uttjrly  ignorant  of  the 
country  to  which  they  had  been  so  rashly  transported.  Crowded  ou 
tliis  barren  shore,  they  mostly  perished,  of  want,  exposure  ami  dis- 
ease; and  the  few  who  survived  were  linally  transported  to  the  Missis- 
sippi. Discouraged  by  these  niisfortunes,  and  regarding  the  land  us 
better  fitted  for  a  penal  scltlemcnt  than  lor  a  prosperous  colony,  the 
h'rench  added  to  the  misery  of  the  unfortunate  lew  who  still  inliub- 
iicd  Louisiana,  by  sending  out  none  but  convicts  and  felons  to  that 
miserable  country.  "  Hundreds,"  we  are  told,  "  of  the  most  degraded 
and  miserable  objects,  in  a  complete  state  of  nakedness,  prcsenled 
themselves  at  some  Spanish  and  English  trading  posts:  others 
perished  of  a  disease  which  they  themselves  had  introduced;  but 


Tll£  FKENCH   IN   AAIKRICA. 


441 


the  far  grccater  number  wauderet]  thrnu,rh  *i  x- 
and  ihtigue  tonninated  their  w"t  d  t  "if"''  ""tij  hunger 
the  garrisons,  at  one  tin.,  were  com  pell  d  to  re  rel/- Zl  7^' 
villages,  to  avoid  perishing  of  hunger.  '^'''" 

IJienville,  to  whose  sanguine  ener.rv  tli«  ,,^1^ 
debted  for  its  preservation   in  ITl^f         ,7  ''"'  ^"^""^^  '"' 
Orleans,  as  tha/of  thr        e ^J  s^^,  'If  "1' f"  ^"^  °^'  ^^^^ 
hisf...i,ht  and  JudgnTent.     W^-^^i^^tJ^'  ''^.^"l^  -'"- 
Pensacola,  the  same  gailuaL  c^-oer  llletin!'  r";"''l'  '''""^' 

French  soldiers  in  Louisiana  in    nl  ?     "  '''"''"'  ^"'"^'^  "^ 

ment;  and  after  a  seri      Z'-otra^^ed  T'^fr'  " "'"  '"""  ^'^''^^  -"^- 
hands  three  times  du   ng  ^    "  rt    '  T^'"' ^^  ^^^^ 
aisputed  territory.     It  w^s  Weve       ,'.""'     P"''''^''''""  "''  '^^ 
to  Spain,  ats  origial  p^^or      '       *'"  ^""^  °'  '''''  ^^--^ 
In  1720,  twelve  hundred  more  settlers  arrived  from  Fm. 

pn!loxtf„ritsf„r,„„li„„-  ™,  »■""■«  wh.ch  l,acl  bcon  the 

tan,  f,,„„  „,.  Ji ;;  ;:rM%:r"  '""'""""■'• "-  ■'  •'"" 

"""l-.y  ,„st  s„,„™o  di    c°„;  „f.'2'""''-""'V'l'l'"""-l  Vtl.o 

«l..r  .1,0  ox.o„«i„,',  „r  i,r.    r°,  rv  . f   ;^  "'   '■'"""'"'"'  ^'"'S'" 
oliaractor  or  i.ro.m.rilv      n,       ,  "",„,,v,.„,„t  .,f  its 

ft»m.l.»,livW,,,,;     lli  7°f"'"''-"''f-"'-"yl.oj,,d„e,l 

■'ivlid™.rvi,Ja' ':;'''.  "•;'■'  •"':  '■--'»f'i  i"  ..nice ,« 


fl 


mm 


■I 


442 


TIIK  I'EOPLE'S  BOOK  OF  HISTORY. 


having  devoted  twenty-nine  years  of  his  life  to  the  care  of  this 
remote  province,  of  which  he  had  been  one  of  the  earliest  founders, 
returned  to  France,  leaving  M.  Perier  to  succeed  him  in  the  command. 


tjiliiliiiJail,  V. 

HOSTILITY  OP  THE  NATCHEZ.  —  THEIR  INJURIES.  —  VAIN  RE- 
MONSTRANCE.—  PLAN  POR  THE  DESTRUCTION  OP  THE   FRENCH. 
— MASSACRE   AT   PORT    ROSALIE. — CAMPAIGN    AGAINST 
THE  NATCHEZ.  —  PLIGHT  AND  FINAL  DESTRUCTION  OF 
THE  TRIDE.  —  WAR  WITH  THE  CHICASAWS. — DISAS- 
TROUS  CAMPAIGN   OF   D'ARTEGRETTE   AND    BIEN- 
VILLE.— GREAT    LOSS    OF    THE     FRENCH     AND 
THEIR   ALLIES. — UNSATISFACTORY   RESULT 
OF  A  SECOND  CAMPAIGN. 

The  erection  of  Fort  Rosalie,  on  the  Mississippi,  was  viewed  with 
some  jealousy  by  the  Natchez,  a  pov/erful  tribe  of  neighbouring 
Indians;  injudicious  attempts  to  collect  tribute  had  given  them  ad- 
ditional offence;  and  in  alliance  with  the  Chicasaws  and  other  tribes 
of  Louisiana,  they  concerted  a  general  attack  on  the  French.  The 
latter,  having  succeeded  in  detaching  the  Choctaws  from  the  hostile 
league,  the  Chicasaws  also  deferred  their  intended  campaign,  but  the 
Natchez,  excited  by  fresh  injury,  rushed  at  once  into  a  war  of  exter- 
mination. Chepar,  the  commandant  of  the  fort  in  question,  wi.shing 
to  lay  out  a  plantation,  with  equal  cn^elty  and  impolicy,  ordered  the 
chief  of  a  neighbouring  village  to  yield  it  up  for  his  use.  In  vain  did 
the  latter  remonstrate.  "When  you  and  your  brothers,"  he  said, 
"came  here  to  ask  us  for  land,  we  did  not  refuse  it;  there  was  enough 
for  you  and  for  us;  we  might  have  hunted  in  the  same  forests,  and 
been  buried  in  the  same  place.  Why  will  you  drive  us  from  the  cabins 
where  we  have  received  you  with  kindness,  and  smoked  witli  you 
the  calumet  of  peace?"  The  commandant,  however,  was  blindly 
inexorable  in  his  demand;  and  the  injured  tribe,  in  close  council, 
resolved  on  signal  vengeance.  A  singular  device  for  ensuring  con- 
cert in  the  intended  assault  was  adopted — a  bundle  of  reeds  being 


close  council 


of  rccds  being 


THE   FRENCH    IN    AMEIilCA. 


448 


sent  to  each  of  the  allied  chiefs-one,  commencing  with  the  next 
new  moon  to  be  drawn  daily  from  the  stock,  and  the  last  to  mark 
the  day  of  retribution. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  1729,  the  Indians,  each  bearin..  his 
tribute  of  corn,  presented  themselves  before  the  fort.  Permitted  to 
enter,  in  great  numbers,  without  any  precaution,  they  dispersed 
tliemselves  through  the  fortress  and  among  the  dwellings;  and  at  a 
given  signal,  raising  their  tomahawks,  fell  on  the  garrison,  and  com- 
mitted  an  indiscriminate  slaughter.  Taken  by  surprise,  nearly  all 
the  I^;en«^nien  were  put  to  death;  eighty  women  and  a  hundred 
and  fifty  children  were  made  prisoners;  and  the  negro  slaves  joined 
the  ranks  of  the  assailants.  Seven  hundred  of  ti.e  Frencli,  it  is  said 
thus  perished  at  a  single  blow;  and  the  Yahoos,  emulating  the 
example  of  their  Natchez  allies,  surprised  the  fort  in  their  terrUorv 
and  put  all  its  tenants  to  death. 

The  French,  burning  for  revenge,  first  massacred  a  company  of 
Chonchas,  dwelling  near  New  Orleans,  who  were  put  to  death  by 
the  negro  slaves,  with  great  cruelty.     The  Choctaws,  enraged  at  the 
engrossment  of  spoil  by  the  Natchez,  now  proffered  their  services  to 
Per:er  and  twelve  hundred  of  them,  commanded  by  a  Frenchman 
were  dispatched  against  Fort  Eosalie,  which  the  Natchez  had  recon- 
structed and  occupied.     This  army  defeated  them,  with  the  loss  of 
eighty  warriors,  and  recovered  fifty  of  the  women  and  children      A 
iorce  of  colonists,  of  equal  number,  provided  with  artillery' and 
attended  by  a  body  of  friendly  Indians,  soon  followed,  and  for  sev- 
eral days  the  assault  was  fiercely  pressed,  the  besieged  defending 
themselves  with  great  resolution.     Terms  of  capitulation  were  finally 
agreed  on,  and  the  rest  of  the  prisoners  were  restored;  but  the 
^atchez  seeing  that  Loubois,  the  French  commander,  intended  to 
b.eak  faith  with    hem,  privately  escaped  by  night  across  the  river 
ma  portion  of  tlie.n  joined  the  Chicasaws.     The  rest  of  the  fugitiy; 
tribe,  having  concealed  themselves  in  the  woods  near  Black  Eivcr 
were  pursued  by  Perier,  the  governor,  in  the  winter  of  1731   and 
jvere  mostly  killed,  in  attempting  to  escape  from  their  fort  or  w"  e 
forced  to  surrender.     The  prisoners  were  seat  to  St.  Dom  n'o  a  d 
old  as  slaves.     The  remainder  of  tlie  tribe,  on  learning  thee"  lis 
^ous  tuhngs  fell  with  great  f^i.y  on  the  Tuul..  and  t.d^^  I  ^    , 
Icsof   he  Lreneh,  and  committed  much  slaughter  anion,  th  ni 


1l 


their  chief,  the  Great  Sun.  being  among  the  kill.-d. 


The  i 


ew  sur- 


444 


THE   I'KOrLK'S    HOOK    OK    II  IS  TdUV 


'I 


I'm 


vivora  of  this  onco  pi^worfiil  tribe  took  rcfiige  (ittioiiif  tlio  Cliioasawa 
and  other  iiutions,  by  whom  tliey  wore  mloptod;  ;iiul  the  iiumc  of 
tlio  Nulehez,  as  a  peoj)lo,  beeaino  extinct;  though,  like  that  of  Tusca- 
loosa, of  Mauvihv,  and  many  another  cuplionious  Indian  title,  still 
perpetuated  in  the  apiwllatiou  of  a  modern  city. 

In  1732,  **ie  Mississippi  Company  abandoned  their  charter,  leaving 
Louisiana  with  a  population  of  about  iivc  thousand  white  inhabitants 
and  half  that  number  of  blacks.  The  prosperity  of  the  colony, 
desjjite  its  terrible  misfortunes  and  losses,  was  now  settled  on  a  per- 
manent base— agriculture,  which  in  those  fertile  regions  so  amply 
repays  the  planter,  having  become  its  principal  occupation.  Indian 
hostilities,  however,  with  hardly  an  interval  of  peace,  were  presently 
res\uned.  The  Chieasaws  had  allbrded  an  asylum  to  the  Yazoos, 
to  the  survivors  of  the  Natchez,  and  to  the  runaway  negroes;  nay, 
they  even  hatched  a  plot  for  the  destruction  of  the  white  settlements 
by  exciting  an  insurrection  of  the  slaves.  Other  acts  of  open  hos- 
tility were  eonnnitted,  and  Bienville,  who  in  1735  returned  and 
resumed  the  olliee  of  governor,  ])ereeived  the  necessity  of  conciliation 
or  war.  All  his  cftbrts  at  the  former  having  failed,  he  sent  for 
D'Ai'tegrette,  the  commandant  of  Fort  Chartres,  on  the  Illinois,  to 
join  him  with  all  his  available  force.  That  oflicer,  already  distin- 
guished for  his  activity  in  the  war  with  the  Natchez,  with  a  force  of 
twelve  hundred  men,  mostly  Illinois  Indian.s,  ra{)idly  descended  the 
Mississippi,  and  marched  into  the  country  of  the  hostile  nation.  The 
Chieasaws  were  well  entrenched,  and  were  cotnmanded  by  English 
officers.  IVArtegrette,  after  waiting  ten  days  in  vain  for  Bienville, 
attacked  tlu'm,  but  aft(4r  taking  two  of  their  forts,  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner,  with  several  of  his  friends.  The  Illinois  fled,  and 
Bienville,  arriving  just  too  late,  attacked  a  fort  defended  by  a  body 
of  iMi'dish,  before  which,  it  is  said,  he  lost  two  thousand  of  his  fol- 
lowers, and  was  eonipelled  to  make  a  miserable  retreat,  marching  for 
a  hundred  miles  without  food,  and  the  enemy  being  in  hot  pursuit. 
The  unfortunate  D'Artrgrette  and  his  fellow-prisoners,  after  the 
defeat  of  their  friends,  were  tortured  to  death  at  the  stake,  after  the 
customary  cruelty  of  tlie  savages. 

In  1739,  Bienville,  acting  in  concert  with  Beauharnois,  the  gov- 
ernor of  Canada,  and  aided  by  a  strong  force  of  French  and  Indians 
from  that  province,  set  forth  on  a  fresh  campaign  against  the  Cliica- 
saws.  The  united  forces  of  the  two  colonies,  amounting  to  three 
thousand  six  hundred  men,  i>f  which  one-third  were  PJuropeans, 


negroes;  nay, 


TIIK   FKENOIl   IN    AMKKICA. 


445 


rende.vou.ecl  ,n  AuguHtut  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Me.npl.is 
After  bu.Mn.g  u  fort,  named  L'Aasomptio..,  a  .series  of  nunfortunes 
overtook  then,  in  tl.e  failure  of  provisions,  the  exeessivc  I.eut,  and  a 
iata  disease,  winch  earned  oJf  numbers  of  them  and  disabled  many 
0  the  survivors  Nevertheless,  a  considerable  body  of  the  armv 
advancmg  toward  the  Chicasaw  eour.try,  that  people,  struek  with 
dismay,  rnade  overtures  of  peaee,  alleging,  in  apology,  that  they  had 
been  exe.ted  to  host.hty  by  the  English  of  Carolina.  They  gave  ud 
two  of  the  latter  who  were  among  them;  and  a  treaty  being  eon- 
eluded  the  pipe  of  peaee  was  solemnly  smoked  and  the  tomahawk 
iorrnally  buried.  Nevertheless,  the  Chieasaws  still  continued  after- 
wards to  g.vo  much  trouble  to  the  French,  and,  assisted  by  their 
English  alhes,  maintained  possession  of  a  very  extensive  territory 


CHAPTER   ?I.   ■ 

PRORPEIUTY  OP  r-OUISIANA.-UNDISTURl,ED])V  WAR-SUOVR- 
CA.E  INTROliUCKD-COMMENCEMEXT   OP   TROUBLES   WITH 
TilE  ENOM«,r.-THE   OHIO  COM  P  A  N  Y.-R  E,S.  ST  E  D    BY  li  / 
UUESNE,  — THE  VIRGINIA    EXPEDITION   UNDER   WASH- 
INGTON.—WAR  WITH  THE  FRENCH  OP  CANADA    ETC 
-TAKING  OP  PORT  DU  QUESNE.— OVERTHROW  OP  ' 
THE    PRKNCH     IN     C  A  N  A  D  A,  — P  U  B  L  I  C     REMN- 
Ql'ISHMENT  OP  A   PART  OP  LOUISIANA  TO  ENG- 
LAND,   AND    SECRET   CESSION    OP    THE    RE- 
MAINDER TO  «PAIN.  — VAIN  remonstrance'. 

In  the  year  1741,  Bienville,  who  for  so  many  years  had  held  com- 
ma,  d  of  the  provi.K-e,  to  the  regret  of  all  the  ii.habitant,.,  took  his 
final  departure  The  country,  howeve.,  eontiuued  to  p.iper,  and 
co„une,ee,  freed  fi.>,a  restrietions,  bega.i  to  assun.e  so.ne  lUi^t^nce. 
Ih  obstinate  u.,im.e  wag.d  between  the  English  colonies  and  the 
Cu  ,l,a,i  iM^eneh,  at  tins  tnne,  did  not  mueh  aOect  the  tnu>m.illitv 
o^  k  mnote  province  of"  Louisiana.  In  17ol,  a  niost  valuable 
a     ,-Mo..  to  the  wealth  ol  the  country  was  n.ade,  in  the  infoduetion 

t^n^'""7V       ■   """"  '^^""'^  "^^^-  ^^'^•"'"^^"  -^  to  their 
biothion  on  the  Mississippi,  and  which,  in  our  own  dav  h-i-  .^-n,,,,! 


446 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK   OF   IIISTOKY. 


the  first  importance,  as  the  staple  of  that  productive  region  which 
fringes  its  shores. 

In  the  following  year,  the  Chicasaws  having  recommenced  their 
3'avagcs,  Yaudreuil,  the  successor  of  Bienville,  marched  against  them 
with  a  force  of  seven  hundred  French  soldiers  and  a  large  body  of 
Indian  allies.  He  laid  waste  their  country,  and  left  an  additional 
force  at  the  Fort  of  Tombeckbee,  to  keep  tliem  in  check,  but,  for 
want  of  artillery,  was  unable  to  take  their  fortified  places. 

The  provinces  of  Canada  and  Louisiana,  nearly  as  distant  from 
each  other  as  from  the  mother-country,  had  now,  with  admirable 
military  skill,  been  almost  completely  connected  by  a  chain  of  posts 
extending  from  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to  that  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. The  extent  of  country  over  which  the  French  asserted  their 
claim,  and  great  part  of  which,  however  sparsely,  they  occupied 
was  vastly  greater  than  that  of  their  neighbours,  the  powerful  Encr. 
lish  colonies — though  the  population  of  the  latter  now  exceeded  a 
million,  while  that  of  both  the  French  provinces  was  but  little  more 
than  a  twentieth  of  that  amount.  It  may  well  be  supposed  that  the 
former,  so  long  and  obstinately  striving  to  wrest  Canada  from  the 
few  but  valiant  hands  which  held  it,  would  not  entirely  overlook 
the  for  richer  and  more  feebly-defended  regions  of  Louisiana. 

After  the  conclusion  of  peace  between  the  rival  nations,  in  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  an  association,  called  the  Ohio 
Company,  had  obtained  from  the  English  crown  a  large  "rant  of 
land  lying  within  a  district  to  which  both  had  laid  claim.  The 
governor  of  Canada,  Du  Quesne,  having  remonstrated  in  vain  against 
its  occupation,  made  prisoners  of  tlie  company's  servants;  and  pro- 
ceeded vigorously  in  the  work  of  completing  his  cordon  of  military 
posts.  In  1754,  the  province  of  Virginia  dispatched  Washington, 
then  a  young  officer  of  twenty-one,  with  a  provincial  regiment,  to 
check  what  was  in  turn  considered  an  encroachment  on  its  territorial 
right;  and  in  a  skirmish  with  the  French,  the  commander  of  a  small 
force  of  that  people,  with  ten  of  his  men,  was  killed.  The  Virgin- 
ians, entrenching  themselves  against  a  larger  force,  were  in  tnrn 
compelled  to  capitulate.  War  was  at  once  vigorously  rccoin- 
menced,  the  eventful  progress  of  which  against  the  French  of  Nova 
Scotia  and  Canada  has  been  already  detailed.  In  1758,  the  year 
before  the  fall  of  Quebec,  Port  Du  Quesne,  the  connecting  link 
between  the  two  Frencli  provinces,  was  taken  by  the  English,  the 
gariison  setting  it  on  fire,  and  escaping  in  boats  down  the  Ohio,  and 


THE  FKENCII   IN    AMEEIOA. 


447 


proccca.ng  to  Ivcvv  Orleans.  The  victors  rebuilt  it,  .„d  named  it 
after  tlie  cclebm  ed  minister  then  at  the  head  of  British  affairs-  and 
at  the  present  day,  under  the  name  of  Pittsburgh,  it  is  one  of  the 
most  flourishing  cities  of  the  interior  of  America 

With  the  capture  of  Quebec  and  the  overthrow  of  their  power  in 
Canad;,,  the  rrench  seem  to  have  lost  that  enterprising  spiril,  which, 
with  such  fooblc  means,  had  brought  such  immense  territories  unde; 
thor  su'ay;  and  Louisiana,  its  wealth  and  resources  not  yet  appre- 
ciated was  regarded  as  only  the  poor  remnant  of  a  oncof  powerful 
Kronch-American  empire.  At  the  treaty  of  Paris,  which  soon  fol- 
cnved  that  event,  they  yielded  to  the  English  nearly  all  eas^  of  the 
Mississippi,  reserving  only  the  island  of  New  Orleans,  and  making 
that  river  with  Lakes  Pontehartrain  and  Maurepas,  the  boundary 
between  the  possessions  of  the  two  nations.  By  the  surrender  of 
Acadia,  Canada,  and  other  northern  possessions,  the  population  of 
Louisiana  received  a  considerable  accession-many  of  the  French 
colonists,  expelled  from  their  homes,  or  declining  the  rule  of  strangers 
taking  refuge  there.  °      ' 

A  lar  heavier  blow  to  the  nationality  of  the  diminished  province 
ollowed  spoe.l,y  afterwards.     By  a  secret  article  of  the  treaty  of 
laris  Lmiis  XV.  had  agreed  to  surrender  the  remainder  of  Louis- 
iana to  .V-n,  as  a  compensation  for  the  loss  of  Florida,  which  the 
latter  had  been  compelled  to  cede  to  England.     For  some  time  this 
arrangement  was  kept  private,  but  when  it  eventually  transpired 
he  unfortunate  eo  onists  were  seized  with  dismay  and  mortification: 
n  he  general  grief  and  excitement,  all  occupations  were  abandoned, 
and  at  a  meeting  of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  of  the  province 
at  i\ew  Orleans,  it  was  resolved  to  remonstrate  strongly  with  the 
home  government.     M.  Milhet,  the  wealthiest  and  most  bfluentid 
nierchantof  that  city,  was  dispatehed  to  France,  and  with  the  aid 
of  the  aged  Bienville,  then  eighty-seven  years  old,  but  still  warmly 
ataehod  to  the  colony  he  had  founded,  pressed  his  suit  with  the 
Dal  e  de  Choiseul.     But  that  minister,  who  was  himself  the  author 
of  the  obnoxious  measure,  parried  all  his  attempts,  and  the  unfortu- 
nate  envoy  could  not  even  obtain  an  audience  with  the  kin. 


448 


THE  PEOPLE'S    BOOK   01'   IIISTOBY. 


ullili'  iJtlj  Irl     V  i  i , 


ARRIVAL   OF    ULI.OA    AS  SPANISH    OOVEUNOR;    HIS  OBSTINACY; 

HIS   EXPULSION    FROM   THE   COUNTRY. ARRIVAL   OP   O'REILLY: 

HIS   PERFIDY  AND  CRUELTY.  —  FIVE  CITIZENS  EXECUTED. 

—  TYRANNY  OF  O'REILLY. GREAT  EMIGRATION    FROM 

LOUISIANA:   THAT   PROVINCE   RECEDED   TO   FRANCE; 
SOLD    BY    NAPOLEON    TO    THE    UNITED   STATES. 


A  YEAR  after  the  treaty,  D'Abbadie,  tbc  governor  of  Louisiana, 
bad  received  orders  from  bis  court  to  surrender  that  province  to  any 
Spanish  olTicer  empowered  to  receive  it;  yet,  singular  to  state, 
wbetlier  from  policy  or  mere,  carelessness,  two  more  years  elapsed 
before  any  such  claimant  appeared.  The  unfortunate  colonists  were 
beginning  to  cherish  the  hope  that  they  might  yet  be  spared,  when 
the  return  of  Milhet,  with  an  account  of  bis  failure,  ami  tlie  recep- 
tion of  a  letter  from  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  announcing  his  arrivul 
as  Spanish  governor,  (1766,)  put  an  end  to  these  fallacious  expecta- 
tions. The  citizens,  exasperated  at  being  thus  involuntarily  trans- 
ferred to  a  foreign  power,  now  resolved  on  opposing  it  to  the  extent 
of  their  feeble  ability;  and  Lafrcniere,  the  attorney-general,  encour- 
aged this  spirit  of  resistance,  citing  the  example  of  the  English  North 
American  colonies,  then  just  involved  in  controversy  with  the 
mother-country.  It  was  strenuously  demanded  of  the  council  that 
they  should  warn  Ulloa  to  quit  the  country.  That  officer,  who  had 
landed,  with  only  two  companies  of  infantry,  at  New  Orleans,  did 
not  for  some  time,  it  seems,  aim  at  any  thing  more  than  a  species  of 
toleration  of  his  presence  there.  The  force  he  brought  was  large 
enough  to  excite  odium,  but  not  awe  in  the  people;  and  the  yellow 
i'cxcr,  which  now  for  the  first  time  made  its  appearance  iu  New 
Orleans,  and  which  was  ascribed  by  the  citizens  to  the  coming  of  these 
intruders,  increased  the  popular  ill-will.  As  yet  Ulh)a  liad  pro- 
duced no  credentials  of  authority  to  the  French  officials,  and  tlie 
council,  pressed  by  public  opinion,  at  length,  in  1767,  dcmnnded 
that  he  should  present  them  or  quit  the  country.  With  true  Span- 
ish obstinaoy,  not  having  sufficient  force  to  compel  obedience,  he 
preferred  the  latter,  and  embarlced  on  board  a  vessel  of  his  own 


aular  to  state. 


THE  FRENCH   IN   AMKKICA. 

449 

country     The  same  night  her  cables  were  cut  by  a  partv  of  .^v 

young  iM-enchinen,  excited  by  wine  and  «hp  rUU^  a,  ,^        ^"^ 

After  liis  departure  the  ciLT  1  '^\^''^^^^  d«^vn  the  stream. 

to  the  French  ou  wittfre  h  rI"T'"''  '"'  ''^^"^'^^"^  '^'-">- 
tion,  but  iu  vain;  anj  n  J^  v  mr  "i  '',""  '^"'"'^  ^'''^^^  ^^P^^"- 
that'  the  Spanish  r;^ai  -'^^^^^  .^f  ^  -"'^^--tio. 

Spaniard  by  choice,)  with  a  for t  of  I  ^;  «"      f"''''  ^'^  ^''''^'  ' 
entered  the  Mi.ssiss  ppi      BeW        v,      ^^''  *'^°^'^""^'  "^^"'  ^'^^ 
tion,  the  feeble  pXe  1.7  „^^" ''7''^'"'"° ''""'^'■^^^ 
d.J.ies  were  aeLdin^^  X^^Xi^t  o!;;:!^"'^^ 

governn.cnt  for  the  fnu^eZTet^^^^^^ 

hatred  against  the  French   Jill  \  ,^'  '^''''^'"^  "^  ^'^'^'^ 

and  cruelty,  was  not  W  l^;'  k  '  "ff^^^'f  ^^  -^-'^^  -o.-nce 

Taking  on  himself  alUhTstatand^TT"""'"^^^^^^ 
sign,  he  soon  had  under  aVr    fa  nuX^oT^r  ^'°"^  ""^^^^ 
citizcna  in  the  state  esiwi^ll,,  .k        °""""  "  'he  most  pronimcnt 

..ration  of  ^st^noVTSertldT""^^^^  ""'  *=  '"'^  "^'"°"- 
of  a  trial,  „ere  senteneedtThu  "     Z  r'  "n'  ""  "'"'■^'>' 

the  laws  of  Castile  for  iZTjfraT' ZZ^'"'  'T'^'''^'^ 
these  oppressions,  rendered  a  sulW  i  ^  ^^  ''  ""'"^'^  '"  '■^«'«t 
of  the  wealthy  and  enterp"!;;'  ,L"of  U:"""  ,  ''"  f  ""^^^  ^''^^^ 
taken  refuge  in  St.  Domingo  ^0^  a  f  ^'^'."^ '^^''^"^^ 
tide  of  fugitive,  driven  hA  ,  '  '''''  ^'''''''  ^^erwards,  the  I 
to  flow  to'  Lo  i;iana      i'""^^  --rreetion,  was  destined  .^gaia 

order  of  the  gotZ;  ll'  hi!T'T' "  'T  '"^"^  ^^"^^^^  ^y"  an        ' 
^^ted.    In  1770,  he  t^di  l^de  an^^^^^^^  !  °"'^  ^«  ^"^^^  ^^'P^^P- 
to  the  captain-generalship  7cub?'  Tl'     "  ''""""  -as  annexed 
tration,  Nuzaga  crovernpi  ?  V,         .         S"ccessor  m  the  adminis- 

restricted  in  irs  ioX'    ,    "     ^      '''"'  '"^  *'"  ^''""•^'  ^''-°'^ 
It  )nly  remains  to  n?     T"^  '"'"^  ^^^ree  of  prosperity.        ° 

Vol  lllisi'     P'""  ^'"^  "^•'■^'^'^  ^"  ^<-^«tore  Louisiana  to 


450 


THE  PEOPLE'S   BOOK  OF   lUSTOKY. 


«?fTi 


France;  but  this  article,  for  reasons  of  state,  was  kept  sccrefc  until 
1803,  when,  to  the  groat  joy  of  the  colonists,  who  hud  never  relin- 
quished their  attaclnnent  to  the  parent-country,  it  was  made  public. 
But  the  United  States,  having  a  far  deeper  interest  at  stake  than 
either  of  the  foreign  powers  which  thus  transferred  the  province 
from  hand  to  hand,  lost  no  time  in  opening  negotiations  with  the 
French  government  for  its  cession  to  their  own  jurisdiction.     Napo- 
leon, aware  of  the  difficulty  (considering  the  inferiority  of  the  French 
marine  to  the  English,)  in  retaining  this  distant  territory,  was  not 
unwilling  to  see  it  transferred  into  the  hands  of  a  friendly,  or  at 
least   neutral   power,  rather   than   be   exposed   to  capture  by  the 
enemy.     Accordingly,  on  the  30th  of  April,  1803,  a  treaty  was 
signed,  by  which  the  United  States  were  to  acquire  the  whole  of 
Louisiana,   paying  the  inconsiderable  sum  of  fifteen  millions  of 
dollars,  and  admitting  the  vessels  of  France  and  Spain,  duty  free, 
for  twelve  years,  into  the  ports  of  that  province.     An  article  of  this 
instrument,  drawn  up  by  the  hand  of  the  First  Consul  himself,  as- 
sured the  iidiabitants  of  full  equality  with  all  other  citizens  of  the 
Union,  and  provided  for  their  speedy  incorporation  into  the  confed- 
eracy.    In  delivering  the  document,  he  remarked,  "Make  it  known 
to  the  people  of  Louisiana  that  we  regret  to  part  with  them ;  that 
we  have  stipulated  for  all  the  advantages  they  could  desire;  and 
that  France,  in  giving  them  up,  has  ensured  to  them  the  greatest  of 
all.     They  could  never  have  prospered  under  any  European  govern- 
ment as  tiiey  will  when  they  become  independent.     But,  while  they 
enjoy  the  privileges  of  liberty,  let  them  remember  that  they  arc 
French,  and  preserve  for  their  mother-country  that  affection  which 
a  common  origin  inspires." 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1803,  the  Spanish  commissioners  gave 
formal  possession  of  the  country  to  the  French  prefect,  Laussat, 
presenting  him  with  the  keys  of  the  capital.  For  thirty-four  years 
it  had  been  under  possession  of  the  Spaniards,  but  had  in  no  degree 
lost  its  nationality  or  affection  for  the  parent-country.  For  twenty 
days  the  tri-coloured  flag,  disj)layed  with  a  melancholy  pleasure, 
waved  over  the  recovered  city,  the  last  of  those  splendid  possessions 
once  held  by  the  French  in  North  America.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  (December  20th)  it  was  lowered,  and  replaced  by  the  stripes 
and  stars,  and  quiet  possession  of  the  territory  was  taken  by  tlie 
United  Slates'  authorities. 


secret  until 
never  reliu-     | 
Tiade  public, 
it  stake  than 
the  province     , 
ons  with  the 
tion.     Napo- 
)f  the  French     ! 
tory,  was  not 
riendly,  or  at 
pture  by  the    ; 
a  treaty  was 
the  whole  of 
i  millions  of    ; 
lin,  duty  free, 
article  of  this 
il  himself,  as- 
jitizens  of  the    ! 
to  the  confed-    • 
[akc  it  known 
th  them;  that 
1  desire;  and 
lie  greatest  of    ' 
opean  govern-    | 
lit,  while  they    , 
that  they  arc 
flection  which 

lissioners  gave 
c'fect,  Laussat, 
rty-four  years 
d  in  no  degree 
.  For  twenty 
holy  pleasure, 
lid  possessions  . 
be  end  of  that 
by  the  stripes 
taken  by  the 


